consists

1. 1
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of consist.

   The committee consists of seven elected representatives.

   A balanced meal consists of protein, vegetables, and whole grains.

   Note

   The form that carries most talk about parts and wholes. It takes a singular subject and is followed by of, which introduces the components: a meal consists of protein and grains. Older English used the verb more loosely, to mean simply "to be" or "to exist, be compatible." Those uses are now obsolete or archaic, which leaves the of-construction as the safe modern pattern.

2. 2
   noun

   Plural of consist.

   The dispatcher reassigned several consists to clear the congested mainline.

   Longer consists require additional locomotives to maintain speed on grades.

   Note

   A railroader's plural. Each consist is one lineup of cars, with or without a locomotive, that runs as a unit. So consists counts whole formations, not single cars. The spelling is shared with the everyday verb form (the committee consists of seven), but the noun stands with a number or a determiner: several consists, longer consists, the evening consists.

Showing meanings only. Show all 2