Meaning & use
compose
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To write or create a piece of music, writing, or art.
Grammar: Takes an object: compose a song. Can also be used intransitively: He composes for films.
Patterns
- compose something
- compose for something
She composed a beautiful piano sonata.
He composes music for films.
The poet composed several sonnets in her youth.
verbtransitiveformal
To be the parts that form something; to make up a whole.
Grammar: Often used in the passive: be composed of. Active: The committee is composed of ten members.
Patterns
- be composed of something
- compose something
The committee is composed of experts from various fields.
Twelve students compose the choir.
The mixture is composed of oil and vinegar.
verbtransitive
To calm yourself and regain control of your feelings.
Grammar: Used reflexively: compose yourself. Often in the phrase 'compose oneself'.
Patterns
- compose oneself
She took a deep breath to compose herself before the interview.
He tried to compose his thoughts before speaking.
Word forms
| third person singular | composes |
|---|---|
| past tense | composed |
| past participle | composed |
| -ing form | composing |
Common combinations
- compose a piece
- He composed a piece for the school orchestra.
- be composed of
- The team is composed of players from different countries.
- compose oneself
- She paused to compose herself after the shock.
- compose music
- He composes music in his spare time.
Synonyms and how they differ
- write
- Write is the general word for creating text; compose is more formal and often used for music or careful literary work.
- create
- Create is broader and can refer to any new thing; compose specifically suggests putting parts together in an artistic or structured way.
- constitute
- Constitute is a formal synonym for 'make up' and is often used in official contexts; compose is more common in passive structures like 'be composed of'.
Word family
- composer noun
- A person who writes music.
- composition noun
- A piece of music or writing, or the act of creating one.
- composed adjective
- Calm and in control of one's feelings.
Commonly confused: compose or comprise?
compose vs comprise
Comprise means 'consist of' and is used actively: The team comprises five players. Compose is often passive: The team is composed of five players.
Practice
The orchestra ______ of fifty musicians.
Choose one answer.
The passive 'is composed of' is the correct pattern to describe what something consists of. The active 'composes' would mean the orchestra creates something, which is not the intended meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “compose”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.