# compose

Pronunciation: say "kuhm-POHZ" US /kəmˈpoʊz/, UK /kəmˈpəʊz/, AUS /kəmˈpəʉz/

## Verb

1. To produce a literary or musical work through deliberate mental effort.
   - Simple: To create music, writing, or other work by thinking it out.
   - _The young pianist hopes to compose a full symphony before she turns thirty._
   - _Many writers compose more fluently in the early morning._
2. To make up or constitute the whole of something.
   - Simple: To be all the parts that make up something whole.
   - _Representatives from every member nation compose the council that meets each spring._
   - _The museum's permanent collection is composed of gifts from local families._
3. To form something by merging separate parts into one.
   - Simple: To make something by joining parts together.
   - _Artists compose collages by gluing many small images together._
   - _The chef composed the dish from local ingredients._
4. To calm someone or oneself, freeing them from agitation.
   - Simple: To make yourself or someone calm again after worry or strong feeling.
   - _She took a deep breath to compose herself before the interview._
   - _It took her several minutes to compose herself after the bad news._
5. To arrange the visual elements within a photograph or other picture.
   - Simple: To arrange the parts of a photo or picture in a pleasing way.
   - _She composed the shot so the tree framed the distant church._
   - _Good photographers compose each frame with care._
6. To arrange something into proper form and order, putting it into a fit state or condition.
   - Simple: To put things in good order or proper shape.
   - _Before the meeting, managers compose their agendas carefully._
   - _The editor composed the scattered notes into a coherent report._
7. To settle an argument, dispute, or disagreement and bring it to a resolution.
   - Simple: To settle an argument and bring it to a peaceful end.
   - _The mediator helped the two sides compose their differences._
   - _They finally composed their long-running quarrel._
8. To consist of or include as constituent parts. *(nonstandard)*
   - Simple: To be made up of several parts.
   - _Such collections compose dozens of rare manuscripts._
   - _The encyclopedia composes thirty volumes in total._

## Verb

9. To arrange metal type in a composing stick in order to typeset text for printing. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To set up metal letters in order so a page can be printed.
   - _The apprentice learned to compose pages letter by letter._
   - _Skilled workers composed the newspaper's columns each night by hand._

## Origin

From Middle English composen, from Old French composer ("to compose, compound, adjust, settle"), formed from com- plus poser. This adapted Latin componere ("to put together"), from com- ("together") and ponere ("to put, place").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/compose (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).