Topic: MUSIC
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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | composer, from Latin componere; COMPOUND2 |
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com‧pose
1
a) to be formed from a number of substances, parts, or people [= consist of]: Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen. The legal system is composed of people, and people make mistakes.
be composed of something
Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.The legal system is composed of people, and people make mistakes.b) [transitive not in progressive] formal to combine together to form something [= make up]: More than 17.6 million firms compose the business sector of our economy.
More than 17.6 million firms compose the business sector of our economy.2 [intransitive and transitive]APM to write a piece of music [↪ composer, composition]: Barrington has composed the music for a new production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
Barrington has composed the music for a new production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.3 to write a letter, poem etc, thinking very carefully about it as you write it : Compose a letter to your local paper stating your views on an issue of your choice.
compose a letter/poem/speech etc
Compose a letter to your local paper stating your views on an issue of your choice.4
a) to try hard to become calm after feeling very angry, upset, or excited : Lynn took several deep breaths to compose herself.
compose yourself
Lynn took several deep breaths to compose herself.b) to make yourself look or feel calm [↪ composure]: When asked a question, give yourself a second to compose your thoughts.
compose your face/features/thoughts
When asked a question, give yourself a second to compose your thoughts.5 [transitive] to arrange the parts of a painting, photograph, or scene in a way that achieves a particular result : I like the way he composes his photographs.
I like the way he composes his photographs.