compose

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to be the parts that form something larger.

v. to constitute or make up the constituent parts of a whole.

“Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.”

“The committee is composed of representatives from every department to ensure that all voices are heard during the restructuring process.”

C1 · Advanced Formal

v. to make yourself feel calm and controlled, especially after being upset.

v. to settle or calm one's mind or features; to free from agitation.

“She took a deep breath to compose herself before walking onto the stage.”

“He paused at the threshold for a moment to compose his features, determined not to let his disappointment show to the waiting journalists.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to arrange the different parts of a photograph or painting in a pleasing way.

v. to arrange the visual elements of a work of art or photography according to aesthetic principles.

“The photographer took his time to compose the shot so the mountains were perfectly framed.”

“By learning how to compose a scene effectively, a painter can guide the viewer's eye toward the most important details of the narrative.”

C2 · Proficiency Computing Technical · Archaic

v. to arrange letters and words into lines so they can be printed.

v. to set type or arrange characters in a composing stick for the purpose of printing.

“In the old days, workers had to compose every page by hand using metal letters.”

“The apprentice spent years learning how to compose complex layouts on a traditional printing press before the industry shifted to digital methods.”