kəmˈpōz verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French composer, modification (influenced by poser to put, place) of Latin componere to put together, arrange (perfect stem compos- ), from com- + ponere to put, place — more at position , pose
transitive verb
1.
a. : to form by putting together two or more things, elements, or parts : put together : fashion — now usually in passive
a well- composed body
the assembly was composed of delegates from every state in the union
b. : to form the substance of : constitute
for the most part avarice and envy composed his personality
— now used chiefly in passive
a soup composed of many ingredients
c.
(1) : to put (type) together piece by piece
(2) : to assemble (as text to be printed) character by character and line by line
(3) : to arrange (as input text) into galleys or pages
the computer composes a galley and produces an output tape for a photocomposer
2. : to create by mental or artistic labor : design and execute or put together (as by adapting forms of expression to ideas or to laws of harmony or proportion) : create: as
a. : write
compose a book of poems
: produce
compose a ballad
compose a history of English law
b.
(1) : to formulate and write (a piece of music)
composed a number of stirring marches
(2) : to formulate music for
composed several charming songs
3. : to treat, deal with, or act on so as to reduce (as points at issue) to an innocuous minimum
compose disputes
when labor and management cannot compose their differences — H.S.Truman
4. : to arrange in a fitting, proper, or orderly way : free from an appearance of agitation or disturbance
compose her clothing
the two men had laid him on the bed and composed his limbs — Sheridan Le Fanu
5. : calm , settle , tranquilize
compose a patient
compose his passions
: adjust (as oneself or one's feelings) especially by suppressing or overcoming agitation and achieving calm
life moves on … and one must compose oneself to meet it — Rose Macaulay
intransitive verb
1. : to practice composition (as of literary, musical, or typographical work) : create
at the age of 10 he was composing at the piano
2. obsolete : to come to terms
Synonyms: see calm