Comprise Definition

kəm-prīz

comprised, comprises, comprising

verb

comprised, comprises, comprising

To include; contain.

Webster's New World

To consist of; be composed of.

A nation comprising thirteen states.

Webster's New World

To make up; form; constitute.

A nation comprised of thirteen states.

Webster's New World

To be made up of; to consist of (especially a comprehensive list of parts). [from earlier 15th c.]

The whole comprises the parts.

The parts are comprised by the whole. However, the passive voice of comprise must be employed carefully to make sense. Phrases such as "animals and cages are comprised by zoos" or "pitchers, catchers, and fielders are comprised by baseball teams" highlight the difficulty.

Wiktionary

(informal, considered incorrect, usually in passive) To compose, to constitute. See usage note below.

A team is comprised of its members.

The members comprise the team.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
exclude. See syn. study at include.include
exclude
need
lack
fall-short
fail
except
want

Origin of Comprise

From Old French compris, past participle of comprendre, from Latin comprehendere, contr. comprendere, past participle comprehensus (“to comprehend”); see comprehend. Compare apprise, reprise, surprise.

From Wiktionary
Middle English comprisen from Old French compris past participle of comprendre to include from Latin comprehendere, comprēndere comprehend

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition