Definitions for composition
ˌkɒm pəˈzɪʃ əncom·po·si·tion

Princeton's WordNet(3.27 / 11 votes)Rate this definition:

1. composition, composingnoun

   the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole

   "harmonious composition is essential in a serious work of art"

2. constitution, composition, physical composition, makeup, make-upnoun

   the way in which someone or something is composed

3. compositionnoun

   a mixture of ingredients

4. musical composition, opus, composition, piece, piece of musicnoun

   a musical work that has been created

   "the composition is written in four movements"

5. composing, compositionnoun

   musical creation

6. writing, authorship, composition, penningnoun

   the act of creating written works

   "writing was a form of therapy for him"; "it was a matter of disputed authorship"

7. typography, compositionnoun

   art and technique of printing with movable type

8. composition, paper, report, themenoun

   an essay (especially one written as an assignment)

   "he got an A on his composition"

9. compositionnoun

   something that is created by arranging several things to form a unified whole

   "he envied the composition of their faculty"

Wiktionary(3.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. compositionnoun

   The proportion of different parts to make a whole.

2. compositionnoun

   The general makeup of something.

3. compositionnoun

   An agreement or treaty used to settle differences; later especially, an agreement to stop hostilities; a truce.

4. compositionnoun

   An agreement to pay money in order to clear a liability or obligation; a settling.

5. compositionnoun

   A mixture or compound; the result of composing.

6. compositionnoun

   An essay.

7. compositionnoun

   The formation of compound words from separate words.

8. compositionnoun

   A work of music, literature or art.

9. compositionnoun

   typesetting.

10. Etymology: From compositio.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Compositionnoun

   Etymology: compositio, Latin.

   1. The act of forming an integral of various dissimilar parts.

   We have exact forms of composition, whereby they incorporate almost as they were natural simples. Francis Bacon, New Atlantis.

   In the time of the yncas reign in Peru, no composition was allowed by the laws to be used in point of medicine, but only simples proper to each disease. William Temple.

   2. The act of bringing simple ideas into complication, opposed to analysis, or the separation of complex notions.

   The investigation of difficult things, by the method of analysis, ought ever to precede the method of composition. Newt.

   3. A mass formed by mingling different ingredients.

   Heat and vivacity in age, is an excellent composition for business. Francis Bacon, Essay 43.

   Vast pillars of stone, cased over with a composition, that looks the most like marble of any thing one can imagine. Addison.

   Jove mix’d up all, and his best clay employ’d,
   Then call’d the happy composition Floyd. Jonathan Swift.

   4. The state of being compounded; union; conjunction; combination.

   Contemplate things first in their own simple natures, and afterwards view them in composition with other things. Isaac Watts.

   5. The arrangement of various figures in a picture.

   The disposition in a picture is an assembling of many parts: this is also called the composition, by which is meant the distribution and orderly placing of things, both in general and in particular. John Dryden, Dufresnoy.

   6. Written work.

   Writers are divided concerning the authority of the greater part of those compositions that pass in his name. Roger L'Estrange.

   That divine prayer has always been looked upon as a composition fit to have proceeded from the wisest of men. Addison.

   When I read rules of criticism, I enquire after the works of the author, and by that means discover what he likes in a composition. Joseph Addison, Guardian, №. 115.

   7. Adjustment; regulation.

   A preacher in the invention of matter, election of words, composition of gesture, look, pronunciation, motion, useth all these faculties at once. Ben Jonson, Discov.

   8. Compact; agreement; terms on which differences are settled.

   To take away all such mutual grievance, injuries and wrongs, there was no way but only by going upon composition and agreement amongst themselves. And again, all publick regiment, of what kind soever, seemeth evidently to have arisen from deliberate advice, consultation, and composition between men, judging it convenient and behoveful. Richard Hooker.

   Thus we are agreed;
   I crave our composition may be written,
   And seal’d between us. William Shakespeare, Anthony and Cleopatra.

   Their courage droops, and, hopeless now, they wish
   For composition with th’ unconquer’d fish. Edmund Waller.

   9. The act of discharging a debt by paying part; the sum paid.10. Consistency; congruity.

   There is no composition in these news,
   That gives them credit. ————
   —— Indeed they are disproportion’d. William Shakespeare, Othello.

   11. [In grammar.] The joining of two words together, or the prefixing a particle to another word, to augment, diminish, or change its signification.12.A certain method of demonstration in mathematicks, which is the reverse of the analytical method, or of resolution. It proceeds upon principles in themselves self-evident, on definitions, postulates and axioms, and a previously demonstrated series of propositions, step by step, ’till it gives a clear knowledge of the thing to be demonstrated. This is called the synthetical method, and is used by Euclid in his Elements. John Harris

Webster Dictionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Compositionnoun

   the act or art of composing, or forming a whole or integral, by placing together and uniting different things, parts, or ingredients

2. Compositionnoun

   the invention or combination of the parts of any literary work or discourse, or of a work of art; as, the composition of a poem or a piece of music

3. Compositionnoun

   the art or practice of so combining the different parts of a work of art as to produce a harmonious whole; also, a work of art considered as such. See 4, below

4. Compositionnoun

   the act of writing for practice in a language, as English, Latin, German, etc

5. Compositionnoun

   the setting up of type and arranging it for printing

6. Compositionnoun

   the state of being put together or composed; conjunction; combination; adjustment

7. Compositionnoun

   a mass or body formed by combining two or more substances; as, a chemical composition

8. Compositionnoun

   a literary, musical, or artistic production, especially one showing study and care in arrangement; -- often used of an elementary essay or translation done as an educational exercise

9. Compositionnoun

   consistency; accord; congruity

10. Compositionnoun

    mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement of a difference or controversy; also, the terms or conditions of settlement; agreement

11. Compositionnoun

    the adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation agreed upon in the adjustment

12. Compositionnoun

    synthesis as opposed to analysis

13. Etymology: [F. composition, fr. L. compositio. See Composite.]

Freebase(4.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Composition

   In the visual arts – in particular painting, graphic design, photography and sculpture – composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art, as distinct from the subject of a work. It can also be thought of as the organization of the elements of art according to the principles of art. The term composition means 'putting together,' and can apply to any work of art, from music to writing to photography, that is arranged or put together using conscious thought. In the visual arts, composition is often used interchangeably with various terms such as design, form, visual ordering, or formal structure, depending on the context. In graphic design for press and desktop publishing composition is commonly referred to as page layout. These paintings all show the same subject, the Raising of Lazarus, and essentially the same figures, but have very different compositions: ⁕ Duccio, 1310-11 ⁕ Geertgen tot Sint Jans, 1480s ⁕ Guercino, c. 1619 ⁕ Rembrandt, c. 1630

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. composition

   The act and process of to compose.

   The composition was simple, easy and effective.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on March 20, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Arrangement
   • Creating By Mental Acts
   • Creation
   • Essay
   • Mixture
   • Printing
   • Property
   • Verbal Creation

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'composition' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3951

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'composition' in Nouns Frequency: #1472

How to pronounce composition?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say composition in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of composition in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of composition in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of composition in a Sentence

1. David Sing:

   Now that we are able to see a lot of planets, 10 planets and see the full broad spectrum, we are able to see planets that have clear atmospheres and a lot of water and those that show little features are the cloudy ones, it definitely tells us exoplanets are very diverse and their composition is diverse.

2. Charles Elson:

   That change is seemingly cosmetic in nature, he will still control the composition of the board.

3. Mario Draghi:

   Early next year the Governing Council will reassess the monetary stimulus achieved, the expansion of the balance sheet and the outlook for price developments, should it become necessary to further address risks of too prolonged a period of low inflation ... this would imply altering early next year the size, pace and composition of our measures.

4. Brendan McDermid:

   The best you can do is to get the exposure and focus correct and worry about your composition secondary, more importantly, try not to trip and fall on your colleagues. Or fall to the ground and get trampled by them.

5. Pawan Gupta:

   We knew we would see changes in atmospheric composition in many places during the lockdown, but I have never seen aerosol values so low in the Indo-Gangetic Plain at this time of year.

Popularity rank by frequency of use