con ‧ sti ‧ tute W3 AC /ˈkɒnstətjuːt, ˈkɒnstɪtjuːt $ ˈkɑːnstətuːt/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of constituere 'to set up, constitute' , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + statuere 'to set up' ]
1 . [linking verb, not in progressive] to be considered to be something:
Failing to complete the work constitutes a breach of the employment contract.
The rise in crime constitutes a threat to society.
2 . [linking verb, not in progressive] if several people or things constitute something, they are the parts that form it SYN make up :
We must redefine what constitutes a family.
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In everyday English, people usually say make up rather than constitute :
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His letters to his wife make up the middle section of the book.
3 . [transitive usually in passive] formal to officially form a group or organization SYN found :
The Federation was constituted in 1949.