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REFERENCE

composition

n.
US //ˌkɑmpəˈzɪʃən// UK //kˌɒmpəzˈɪʃən// com·po·si·tion
  1. 1 makeup or ingredients (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic Science

    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.

    Example

    Scientists are studying the chemical composition of the soil on Mars.

    Example

    The precise chemical composition of the alloy determines its resistance to corrosion under extreme temperatures.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'of'.
  2. 2 a creative work (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Music

    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.

    Example

    The orchestra performed a new composition by a young local musician.

    Example

    Her latest musical composition blends traditional folk melodies with modern electronic textures to create a unique soundscape.
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  1. 3 visual arrangement (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Photography

    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.

    Example

    The photographer spent a long time thinking about the composition of the portrait.

    Example

    The painter used a triangular composition to lead the viewer's eye toward the central figure in the crowded scene.
  2. 4 a school essay (n.)
    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.

    Example

    The teacher asked us to write a one-page composition about our summer holidays.

    Example

    The students were required to submit a weekly composition demonstrating their mastery of complex grammatical structures.
  3. 5 word formation (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Academic Linguistics

    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.

    Example

    The word 'skyscraper' is an example of composition in English.

    Example

    Morphological composition allows for the rapid expansion of a language's vocabulary through the synthesis of existing lexical units.
  4. 6 legal settlement (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal Technical Law

    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.

    Example

    The company avoided bankruptcy by reaching a composition with its creditors.

    Example

    The court approved a deed of composition, allowing the insolvent firm to restructure its obligations and continue operations.
Origin

From Middle English composicioun, borrowed from Old French composicion, from Latin compositiō, compositiōnem.

Word family

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