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Definition of composition noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

composition

noun
 OPAL W
 
/ˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃn/
 
/ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃn/
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  1.  
    [uncountable] the different parts that something is made of; the way in which the different parts are organized
    • the chemical composition of the soil
    • the composition of the board of directors
    • the size and composition of an average class
    Synonyms structurestructureframework ▪ form ▪ composition ▪ construction ▪ fabricThese are all words for the way the different parts of something combine together or the way that something has been made.structure the way in which the parts of something are connected together or arranged; a particular arrangement of parts:
    • the structure of the building/​human body
    • the social structure of society
    • the grammatical structures of a language
    • a salary structure
    framework a set of beliefs, ideas or rules that forms the basis of a system or society:
    • The report provides a framework for further research.
    form [U] the arrangement of parts in a whole, especially in a work of art or piece of writing:
    • As a photographer, shape and form were more important to him than colour.
    composition [U] (rather formal) the different parts or people that combine to form something; the way in which they combine:
    • recent changes in the composition of the workforce
    construction [U] the way that something has been built or made:
    • ships of steel construction
    fabric (rather formal) the basic structure of a society or an organization that enables it to function successfully:
    • This is a trend which threatens the very fabric of society.
    Patterns
    • the basic structure/​framework/​form/​composition/​construction/​fabric of something
    • a simple/​complex structure/​framework/​form
    • the economic/​political/​social structure/​framework/​composition/​fabric of something
    • the chemical/​genetic structure/​composition of something
    Extra Examples
    • Has household composition changed in the last decade?
    • Irradiation changes the chemical composition of a spice.
    • The overall composition of the Senate was Democrats 57 and Republicans 43.
    • elections to determine the composition of the assembly
    • the changing composition of the labour force
    • the character of the state and its internal composition
    • the ethnic composition of the region
    • The two drugs are nearly identical in composition.
    • recent changes in the composition of the workforce
    Topics Physics and chemistryc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • overall
    • internal
    • exact
    • …
    verb + composition
    • determine
    • analyse/​analyze
    • measure
    • …
    composition + verb
    • change
    • differ
    phrases
    • a change in the composition of something
    See full entry
  2.  
    [countable] a short text that is written as a school exercise; a short essay
    • a composition on the effects of crime
    • In the exam you will have to do a composition.
    Topics Educationc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • literary
    • original
    • poetic
    • …
    verb + composition
    • do
    • write
    preposition
    • composition on
    See full entry
  3. [countable] (formal) a piece of music or art, or a poem
    • one of Beethoven’s finest compositions
    Extra Examples
    • a composition by John Cage
    • a composition by the sculptor, Bernt Notke
    • a composition for violin and piano
    • an original composition by a popular young composer
    Topics Artc2, Musicc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • abstract
    • figure
    • formal
    • …
    verb + composition
    • create
    preposition
    • composition by
    See full entry
  4. [uncountable] the act of composing something, especially a piece of music; the art of writing music
    • pieces performed in the order of their composition
    • to study composition
  5. [uncountable] (art) the arrangement of people or objects in a painting or photographTopics Artc2
    6. Word Originlate Middle English: via Old French from Latin compositio(n-), from componere ‘put together’.
See composition in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee composition in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: composition

Nearby words

given
adjective
 
 
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