composition
/ˌkɒm.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
The way different parts are arranged to form a whole. It can describe writing, music, art, or the makeup of something.
- The composition of the team changed this year.
- She studied the composition of the essay carefully.
- 2.
A piece of writing, especially one written for school or an exam.
- We had to write a composition on pollution.
- His composition won first prize.
- 3.
A piece of music or art that someone has created.
- The composer finished a new composition.
- This painting has a strong composition.
Adinary Nuance
Composition is broader than writing or music alone. It often means the arrangement of parts in a whole, not just the finished result. For school writing, it is more formal than essay in some contexts, especially in Indian English.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bố cục
- Spanish
- composición
- Chinese
- 构图
- Japanese
- 構成
- Korean
- 구성
Etymology
From Latin compositio, from componere meaning “put together.” It entered English through Old French in the Middle Ages.
Common phrases
essay compositionmusical compositioncomposition of mattergood composition
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is composition the same as essay?
- Not always. An essay is a type of composition, but composition can also mean music, art, or arrangement.
- Is composition formal English?
- Yes, it is fairly formal. In school English, it is common in exams and classwork.
- What is composition in art?
- It means how shapes, colours, and objects are arranged in a picture.
- How do I use composition in a sentence?
- You can say, “The composition of the class is very diverse.”