Compose meaning

kəm-pōz'
To set type.
verb
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2
To create musical or literary works.
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2
To put (oneself, one's mind, etc.) in a state of tranquillity or repose; calm.
verb
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To set type.
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2
(intransitive) To construct by mental labor; to think up; particularly, to produce or create a literary or musical work.

The orator composed his speech over the week prior.

Nine numbered symphonies, including the Fifth, were composed by Beethoven.

It's difficult to compose without absolute silence.

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To make something by merging parts. [ from later 15th c.]

The editor composed a historical journal from many individual letters.

Try to compose your thoughts.

verb
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To make up the whole; to constitute.

A church is composed of its members.

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(nonstandard) To comprise.
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(sometimes reflexive) To calm; to free from agitation.

The defendant couldn't compose herself and was found in contempt.

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To arrange the elements of a photograph or other picture.
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To settle (an argument, dispute etc.); to come to a settlement.
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To arrange in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition.
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(printing, dated) To arrange (types) in a composing stick for printing; to typeset.
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To make up the constituent parts of; constitute or form.

An exhibit composed of French paintings; the many ethnic groups that compose our nation.

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To make or create by putting together parts or elements.
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To create or produce (a literary or musical piece).
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To make (oneself) calm or tranquil.

Compose yourself and deal with the problems logically.

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To settle or adjust; reconcile.

They managed to compose their differences.

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To arrange aesthetically or artistically.
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To arrange or set (type or matter to be printed).
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To create a literary or musical piece.
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To form in combination; make up; constitute.

Mortar is composed of lime, sand, and water.

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To put together; put in proper order or form.
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To create (a musical or literary work)
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To adjust or settle; reconcile.

To compose differences.

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The definition of compose means to combine, to put something in order or to write a piece of music.

An example of compose is form a flower arrangment from a combination of flowers, leaves and fruits.

An example of compose is to line up a group of pictures by the date the picture was taken.

An example of compose is to write a song.

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Origin of compose

  • Middle English composen from Old French composer alteration (influenced by poser to put, place) of Latin compōnere component
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • From Old French composer (“to compose, compound, adjust, settle”), from Latin componere (“to put together, compose”), from com- (“together”) + ponere (“to put, place”)
    From Wiktionary

Compose Sentence Examples

  • Lisa tried to compose her thoughts and expression.

  • She made an effort to compose herself, taking deep breaths.

  • She needed time to compose herself before sharing the bad news with him.

  • Not till then did he compose this letter.

  • We stopped for an ice cream to compose our guest though I disliked taking the time from calling Daniel Brennan to run the license plate number we'd recorded.

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Words near compose in the Dictionary