# composition

/ˌkɑmpəˈzɪʃən/ (US) · /kˌɒmpəzˈɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/composition
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. makeup or ingredients

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the different parts or substances that make up a whole thing.

For teachers: the nature of something's ingredients or constituents; the way in which a whole or mixture is made up.

- Scientists are studying the chemical composition of the soil on Mars.
- The precise chemical composition of the alloy determines its resistance to corrosion under extreme temperatures.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of'.

### 2. a creative work

noun · CEFR B1

a piece of music, a poem, or a story that someone has created.

For teachers: a work of music, literature, or art, especially one that shows great technical skill.

- The orchestra performed a new composition by a young local musician.
- Her latest musical composition blends traditional folk melodies with modern electronic textures to create a unique soundscape.

### 3. visual arrangement

noun · CEFR B2

the way that people or objects are arranged in a painting or photograph.

For teachers: the artistic arrangement of the parts of a picture or other piece of art.

- The photographer spent a long time thinking about the composition of the portrait.
- The painter used a triangular composition to lead the viewer's eye toward the central figure in the crowded scene.

### 4. a school essay

noun · CEFR B1

a short piece of writing done as a school exercise.

For teachers: a short essay or written work produced by a student as an exercise in writing.

- The teacher asked us to write a one-page composition about our summer holidays.
- The students were required to submit a weekly composition demonstrating their mastery of complex grammatical structures.

### 5. word formation

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

the process of making new words by joining two or more words together.

For teachers: the formation of a new word by combining two or more existing words or stems.

- The word 'skyscraper' is an example of composition in English.
- Morphological composition allows for the rapid expansion of a language's vocabulary through the synthesis of existing lexical units.

### 6. legal settlement

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

an agreement where someone pays back only part of a debt to settle it.

For teachers: an agreement between a debtor and creditors whereby the creditors accept a partial payment in full satisfaction of their claims.

- The company avoided bankruptcy by reaching a composition with its creditors.
- The court approved a deed of composition, allowing the insolvent firm to restructure its obligations and continue operations.

## Examples

- The scientist studied the chemical composition of the soil.
- The photographer carefully adjusted the camera to improve the composition of the landscape shot.
- While the physical composition of the painting had degraded over centuries, the underlying geometric structure remained visible to the restoration team.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.