composition
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the different parts or substances that make up a whole thing.
the nature of something's ingredients or constituents; the way in which a whole or mixture is made up.
Simple“Scientists are studying the chemical composition of the soil on Mars.”
In context“The precise chemical composition of the alloy determines its resistance to corrosion under extreme temperatures.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
a piece of music, a poem, or a story that someone has created.
a work of music, literature, or art, especially one that shows great technical skill.
Simple“The orchestra performed a new composition by a young local musician.”
In context“Her latest musical composition blends traditional folk melodies with modern electronic textures to create a unique soundscape.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
the way that people or objects are arranged in a painting or photograph.
the artistic arrangement of the parts of a picture or other piece of art.
Simple“The photographer spent a long time thinking about the composition of the portrait.”
In context“The painter used a triangular composition to lead the viewer's eye toward the central figure in the crowded scene.”
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
a short piece of writing done as a school exercise.
a short essay or written work produced by a student as an exercise in writing.
Simple“The teacher asked us to write a one-page composition about our summer holidays.”
In context“The students were required to submit a weekly composition demonstrating their mastery of complex grammatical structures.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
the process of making new words by joining two or more words together.
the formation of a new word by combining two or more existing words or stems.
Simple“The word 'skyscraper' is an example of composition in English.”
In context“Morphological composition allows for the rapid expansion of a language's vocabulary through the synthesis of existing lexical units.”
Synonyms - 06 C2 Proficiency
an agreement where someone pays back only part of a debt to settle it.
an agreement between a debtor and creditors whereby the creditors accept a partial payment in full satisfaction of their claims.
Simple“The company avoided bankruptcy by reaching a composition with its creditors.”
In context“The court approved a deed of composition, allowing the insolvent firm to restructure its obligations and continue operations.”
Synonyms
“Study author Associate Professor Alexander Larcombe said the results indicate that the body may already be adjusting to changes in the composition of the atmosphere.”
“The composition of the National Assembly matters because it shapes how easily a president can pass budgets and legislation.”
From Middle English composicioun, borrowed from Old French composicion, from Latin compositiō, compositiōnem.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.