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Definition of compose
composed
;composing
transitive verb
1a : to form by putting together : fashion a committee composed of three representatives — Current Biographyb : to form the substance of : constitute composed of many ingredientsc : to produce (columns, pages of type, etc.) by composition
2a : to create by mental or artistic labor : produce compose a sonnetb (1) : to formulate and write (a piece of music) composed a symphony (2) : to compose music for
3 : to deal with or act on so as to reduce to a minimum compose their differences
4 : to arrange in proper or orderly form The two men had laid him on the bed, and composed his limbs. — Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
5 : to free from agitation : calm, settle composed himself Life moves on, … and one must compose oneself to meet it … — Rose Macaulay
intransitive verb
: to practice composition (as of literary, musical, or typographical work) At the age of 10, he was composing at the piano.
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Examples of compose in a Sentence
She composed a letter to her sister.
He is in his studio composing.
Recent Examples of compose from the Web
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The new board of directors would be composed of seven Vantiv board members and four Worldpay members.
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Will this be composed primarily of traditional space companies, new space companies, or a mix of both?
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The result is a kind of cozy modernism: clean, simple planes composed with evocative, handmade, and rustic materials.
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The Creating and Composing storytelling session gets started with sketching characters and scenes and composing music using GarageBand.
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Leary will discuss her novel about a once-wealthy New England family composed of quirky characters with deep secrets.
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There’s actually a story about the music for The Nutcracker adagio, which would seem to belie its emotional power—that it was composed on a bet.
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Against that grim backdrop, Williams has joined an unlikely coalition — composed of public health advocates, former addicts and the law enforcement officers who used to harass and arrest them — bent on battling sky-high rates of opioid abuse.
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Eva Runco San Jose Former FBI director should run for higher office James Comey is so dignified, composed, and honest.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compose'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of compose
Middle English, from Anglo-French composer, from Latin componere (perfect indicative composui) — more at compound
COMPOSE Defined for English Language Learners
compose
playDefinition of compose for English Language Learners
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: to come together to form or make (something)
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: to create and write (a piece of music or writing)
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: to practice the art of writing music
COMPOSE Defined for Kids
compose
playDefinition of compose for Students
composed
;composing
1 : to form by putting together compose a team
2 : to be the parts or materials of This cloth is composed of silk and wool.
3 : to create and write compose a song compose a letter
4 : to make calm : get under control Although the news is shocking, I'll try to compose myself.
Learn More about compose
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See words that rhyme with compose Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for compose Spanish Central: Translation of compose Nglish: Translation of compose for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of compose for Arabic speakers
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