compose

 
Pronunciation: /kəmˈpəʊz/

verb

[with object]
  • 1write or create (a work of art, especially music or poetry): he composed the First Violin Sonata four years earlier
  • phrase (a letter or piece of writing) with great care and thought: the first sentence is so hard to compose
  • form (a whole) by ordering or arranging the parts, especially in an artistic way: compose and draw a still life
  • 2(of elements) constitute or make up (a whole, or a specified part of it): the National Congress is composed of ten senators Christians compose 40 per cent of the state’s population
  • 3calm or settle (oneself or one’s features or thoughts): she tried to compose herself
  • archaic settle (a dispute): the king, with some difficulty, composed this difference
  • 4prepare (a text) for printing by manually, mechanically, or electronically setting up the letters and other characters in the order to be printed: in offices where close-set text was composed both men and women pieceworkers were normally employed

Origin:

late Middle English (in the general sense 'put together, construct'): from Old French composer, from Latin componere (see component), but influenced by Latin compositus 'composed' and Old French poser 'to place'

For an explanation of the differences between compose and comprise, see comprise (usage).