Main Entry: ¹com·pos·ite

Pronunciation: \käm-ˈpä-zət, kəm-ˈ, especially British ˈkäm-pə-zit\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin compositus, past participle of componere

Date: 1563

1 : made up of distinct parts: as a capitalized : relating to or being a modification of the Corinthian order combining angular Ionic volutes with the acanthus-circled bell of the Corinthian b : of or relating to a very large family (Compositae syn. Asteraceae) of dicotyledonous herbs, shrubs, and trees often considered to be the most highly evolved plants and characterized by florets arranged in dense heads that resemble single flowers c : factorable into two or more prime factors other than 1 and itself <8 is a positive composite integer>
2 : combining the typical or essential characteristics of individuals making up a group <the composite man called the Poet — Richard Poirier>
3 of a statistical hypothesis : specifying a range of values for one or more statistical parameters — compare simple 10

— com·pos·ite·ly adverb