WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
com•po•si•tion /ˌkɑmpəˈzɪʃən/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- [uncountable] the elements of which something is composed;
makeup. - a material formed from two or more substances:[countable]various compositions of different toxic chemicals.
- Literature the act or process of producing a piece of writing:[uncountable]the art of composition.
- Education something composed, such as a short essay or a piece of music:[countable]Write a composition on how you spent your summer vacation.
- Fine Art the organization of the different parts of a work of art so as to achieve a whole:[uncountable]The painting's composition is excellent but the color scheme is odd.
com•po•si•tion
(kom′pə zish′ən),USA pronunciation n.
com′po•si′tion•al, adj.
com′po•si′tion•al•ly, adv.
com•pos•i•tive
(kəm poz′i tiv),USA pronunciation adj.
com•pos′i•tive•ly, adv.
- the act of combining parts or elements to form a whole.
- the resulting state or product.
- manner of being composed; structure:This painting has an orderly composition.
- makeup;
constitution:His moral composition was impeccable. - an aggregate material formed from two or more substances:a composition of silver and tin.
- Educationa short essay written as a school exercise.
- Literaturethe act or process of producing a literary work.
- Educationan academic course for teaching the techniques of clear, expository writing.
- the art of putting words and sentences together in accordance with the rules of grammar and rhetoric.
- Music and Dancea piece of music.
- Music and Dancethe art of composing music.
- Fine Artthe organization or grouping of the different parts of a work of art so as to achieve a unified whole.
- Grammarthe formation of compounds or derivatives:the composition of "aircraft'' from "air'' and "craft.''
- a settlement by mutual agreement.
- an agreement or compromise, esp. one by which a creditor or group of creditors accepts partial payment from a debtor.
- a sum of money so paid.
- Printing
- Printingthe setting up of type for printing.
- PrintingAlso called pagination. the makeup of pages for printing.
- Mathematicsthe process of making a composite function of two given functions.
- Latin compositiōn- (stem of compositiō), equivalent. to composit(us) (see composite) + -iōn- -ion
- Anglo-French
- Middle English composicioun 1350–1400
com′po•si′tion•al•ly, adv.
'compositional' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):