# Docker Compose

CEFR C1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/docker-compose
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a tool that helps you run and manage multiple software containers at the same time using a single file. It makes it easy to start complex applications that need several different parts to work together.

For teachers: a tool for defining and running multi-container applications through a YAML configuration file. It orchestrates the lifecycle of interconnected services, allowing them to be started, stopped, and scaled as a single unit.

## Examples

- I use Docker Compose to start my database and web server together.
- The development team shared a Docker Compose file so everyone could run the exact same environment on their own laptops.
- By defining the microservices architecture in a single Docker Compose manifest, the engineers ensured that the networking and volume dependencies were consistently applied across all local development environments.

## Usage notes

- Usually treated as a proper noun; the command-line interface is accessed via 'docker-compose' or 'docker compose'.

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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.