Main Entry:

com·pose

Pronunciation:

\kəm-ˈpōz\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

com·posed; com·pos·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French composer, from Latin componere (perfect indicative composui) — more at compound

Date:

15th century

transitive verb1 a: to form by putting together : fashion <a committee composed of three representatives — Current Biography> b: to form the substance of : constitute <composed of many ingredients> c: to produce (as columns or pages of type) by composition2 a: to create by mental or artistic labor : produce <compose a sonnet> b (1): to formulate and write (a piece of music) (2): to compose music for3: to deal with or act on so as to reduce to a minimum <compose their differences>4: to arrange in proper or orderly form5: to free from agitation : calm, settle <composed himself>intransitive verb: to practice composition