Definition of "compose"

compose

/kəmˈpoʊz/

verb
third-person singular simple present composes, present participle composing, simple past and past participle composed
1. (transitive) To make something by merging parts.
  Quotations
  Zeal ought to be composed of the highest degrees of all pious affection.
  December 22 1678, Thomas Sprat, A Sermon Preached before the King at White-Hall
2. (transitive) To make up the whole; to constitute.
  Quotations
  A few useful things […] compose their intellectual possessions.
  1741, I[saac] Watts, The Improvement of the Mind: Or, A Supplement to the Art of Logick: […], London: […] James Brackstone, […]
3. (transitive, nonstandard) To comprise.
4. (transitive or intransitive) To construct by mental labor; to think up; particularly, to produce or create a literary or musical work.
  Quotations
  Let me […] compose / Something in Verse as true as Prose.
  1714, Alexander Pope, Imitation of Horace, Book II. Sat. 6
  the genius that composed such works as the "Standard" and "Last Supper"
  1838, Benjamin Haydon, Painting, and the fine arts
5. (sometimes reflexive) To calm; to free from agitation.
  Quotations
  Compose thy mind; / Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed.
  1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […]
6. To arrange the elements of a photograph or other picture.
7. To settle (an argument, dispute etc.); to come to a settlement.
  Quotations
  By trying his best to compose matters with the mullahs, he had sincerely shown that he did not seek a violent collision […]
  2010, Christopher Hitchens, Hitch-22, Atlantic, published 2011, page 280
8. To arrange in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition.
  Quotations
  In a peaceful grave my corpse compose.
  1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […]
  How in safety best we may / Compose our present evils.
  1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873,
9. (printing, dated) To arrange (types) in a composing stick for printing; to typeset.

Definition of "compose"

compose

verb

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