compose

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /kəmˈpoʊz/ UK /kəmˈpəʊz/ See IPA manual

Freq #15540

Meanings

1

verb
to be the parts that make up something; to form a whole

Usage: In the make-up sense, parts compose a whole, and a whole is composed of parts. This sense differs from writing music or a text.

Three elected representatives compose the neighborhood committee.

Women compose nearly half of the company's workforce.
2

verb
to write a piece of music

Beethoven composed nine symphonies.
3

verb
to create something by putting parts together

She composed a short poem from a few favourite lines.
4

verb
to make yourself calm again after being upset

She took a deep breath to compose herself before the interview.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to be the parts that make... constitute

2 verb · to write a piece of music write

3 verb · to create something by... compile

More compound comprise form indite representupmake

Word family

Forms composedcomposescomposing

Derived forms cocomposecomposabilitycomposablecomposer composite composition compositorcomposographcomposure decompose discomposemiscompose

Related forms composition

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

compose a piece
to create an original musical composition

Verb + noun
compose music
to write and create original musical pieces

Verb + noun

Etymology

Through French composer, an adaptation of Latin componere, to put together, combining com- with ponere, to put or place.

*tḱey- Proto-Indo-European composen Middle English composer Old French componere Latin ponere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# compose

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /kəmˈpoʊz/
**IPA (UK):** /kəmˈpəʊz/
**Frequency rank:** 15540

## Meanings
1. to be the parts that make up something; to form a whole
2. to write a piece of music
3. to create something by putting parts together
4. to make yourself calm again after being upset

## Usage Notes
- to be the parts that make up something; to form a whole: In the make-up sense, parts compose a whole, and a whole is composed of parts. This sense differs from writing music or a text.

## Examples
- Three elected representatives compose the neighborhood committee.
- Women compose nearly half of the company's workforce.
- Beethoven composed nine symphonies.
- She composed a short poem from a few favourite lines.
- She took a deep breath to compose herself before the interview.

## Synonyms
- compound
- comprise
- form
- indite
- represent
- upmake

## Derived Forms
- cocompose
- composability
- composable
- composer
- composite
- composition
- compositor
- composograph
- composure
- decompose
- discompose
- miscompose

## Related Forms
- composition

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *tḱey-
- Root: composen
- Root: composer
- Root: componere
- Affix: com- - with
- Root: ponere - to put

## Etymology
Through French composer, an adaptation of Latin componere, to put together, combining com- with ponere, to put or place.

## AI Etymology
compose is a verb. It is from Middle English composen, from Old French composer (“to compose, compound, adjust, settle”), from com- + poser, as an adaptation of Latin componere (“to put together, compose”), from com- (“together”) + ponere (“to put, place”). Historical forms in the chain include *tḱey- (Proto-Indo-European), composen (Middle English), composer (Old French), and componere (Latin). Current senses include to be the parts that make up something; to form a whole, to write a piece of music, and to create something by putting parts together. Derived forms include cocompose, composability, composable, composer, and composite. Related words include composition.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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