- 1[transitive, usually passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) compose something (formal) to combine together to form a whole synonym make somethingup Ten men compose the committee. see composed
- 2[transitive, intransitive] compose (something) to write music Mozart composed his last opera shortly before he died.
- 3[transitive] compose a letter/speech/poem to write a letter, etc. usually with a lot of care and thought She composed a letter of protest.
- 4[transitive, no passive] (formal) to manage to control your feelings or expression compose yourself Emma frowned, making an effort to compose herself. compose something I was so confused that I could hardly compose my thoughts. see composure
compose
verbNAmE//kəmˈpoʊz//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they compose he / she / it composes
past simple composed
-ing form composing
Check pronunciation: compose