COMPOSE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does compose mean? 

• COMPOSE (verb)
  The verb COMPOSE has 6 senses:

1. form the substance of

2. write music

3. produce a literary work

4. put together out of existing material

5. calm (someone, especially oneself); make quiet

6. make up plans or basic details for

  Familiarity information: COMPOSE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMPOSE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they compose    ... he / she / it composes   
Past simple: composed   
Past participle: composed   
-ing form: composing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Form the substance of

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

Greed and ambition composed his personality

Hypernyms (to "compose" is one way to...):

be; comprise; constitute; make up; represent (form or compose)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

component (an abstract part of something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Write music

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

compose; write

Context example:

Beethoven composed nine symphonies

Hypernyms (to "compose" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Domain category:

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "compose"):

counterpoint (write in counterpoint)

set to music (write (music) for (a text))

arrange; set (adapt for performance in a different way)

score (write a musical score for)

melodise; melodize (supply a melody for)

harmonise; harmonize (write a harmony for)

instrument; instrumentate (write an instrumental score for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Did he compose his major works over a short period of time?

Derivation:

composer (someone who composes music as a profession)

composing; composition (musical creation)

composition (a musical work that has been created)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Produce a literary work

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

compose; indite; pen; write

Context example:

He wrote four novels

Hypernyms (to "compose" is one way to...):

create verbally (create with or from words)

"Compose" entails doing...:

spell; write (write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word))

Domain category:

authorship; composition; penning; writing (the act of creating written works)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "compose"):

draft; outline (draw up an outline or sketch for something)

script (write a script for)

write out; write up (put into writing; write in complete form)

cite; reference (refer to)

annotate; footnote (add explanatory notes to or supply with critical comments)

author (be the author of)

poetise; poetize; verse; versify (compose verses or put into verse)

adopt; dramatise; dramatize (put into dramatic form)

write copy (write for commercial publications)

rewrite (rewrite so as to make fit to suit a new or different purpose)

dash off; fling off; knock off; scratch off; toss off (write quickly)

write off (write something fluently, and without hesitation)

paragraph (write about in a paragraph)

paragraph (write paragraphs; work as a paragrapher)

profile (write about)

write about; write of; write on (write about a particular topic)

lyric (write lyrics for (a song))

draw (write a legal document or paper)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence examples:

Did he compose his major works over a short period of time?
They will compose the duet

Derivation:

composition (the act of creating written works)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Put together out of existing material

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

compile; compose

Context example:

compile a list

Hypernyms (to "compose" is one way to...):

make (make by shaping or bringing together constituents)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "compose"):

anthologise; anthologize (compile an anthology)

catalog; catalogue (make a catalogue, compile a catalogue)

cobble together; cobble up (put together hastily)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

compositor (one who sets written material into type)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Calm (someone, especially oneself); make quiet

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

She had to compose herself before she could reply to this terrible insult

Hypernyms (to "compose" is one way to...):

calm; calm down; lull; quiet; quieten; still; tranquilize; tranquillise; tranquillize (make calm or still)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

composure (steadiness of mind under stress)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Make up plans or basic details for

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

compose; draw up; frame

Context example:

frame a policy

Hypernyms (to "compose" is one way to...):

plan (make plans for something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

He looked her over in his searching fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and his finger-tips together, to listen to her story.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Each day he typed what he composed, and he typed his earlier manuscripts as fast as they were returned him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Ikeega was proud and embarrassed by turns, but Keesh was quite composed.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

His face strove to compose itself, writhing and twisting in the effort till he broke down again.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The expression of his face changed gradually from indignant contempt to a composed and steady gravity.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

A film composed of active and/or inert ingredient(s).

(Medicated Film Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

LFA-1, Leukocyte function-associated molecule 1, is an integrin composed of two subunits, CD11a and CD18.

(Adhesion Molecules on Lymphocyte Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

ZMapp is composed of 3 different monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).

(Experimental Ebola antibody protects monkeys, NIH)

I began my discourse by informing his majesty, that our dominions consisted of two islands, which composed three mighty kingdoms, under one sovereign, beside our plantations in America.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

They were both upright in their carriage, formal, precise, composed, and quiet.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)