to make or form by combining things, parts, or elements

He composed his speech from many research notes.

to be or constitute a part or element of

a rich sauce composed of many ingredients.

to make up or form the basis of

Style composes the essence of good writing.

to put or dispose in proper form or order

to compose laws into a coherent system.

Art . to organize the parts or elements of (a picture or the like).

to create (a musical, literary, or choreographic work).

to end or settle (a quarrel, dispute, etc.)

The union and management composed their differences.

to bring (oneself, one's mind, etc.) to a condition of calmness, repose, etc.; calm; quiet.

Printing .

to set (type).

to set type for (an article, book, etc.).

to engage in composition, esp. musical composition.

to enter into composition; fall into an arrangement

a scene that composes well.

verb

destroy , disarrange , disperse , ruin , scatter , agitate , anger , arouse , distress , excite , upset

verb

be an adjunct , be an element of , belong to , be made of , build , compound , comprise , consist of , constitute , construct , enter in , fashion , form , go into , make , make up , merge innotes:compose is preferred when the parts of the whole being assembled are regarded as nonconcrete and more general; when the parts are concrete and specific , then constitute is more appropriate , and then there is comprise , which can mean \'comprehending or encompassing certain parts\' , author , bang out , cast , clef , coin a phrase , comp , conceive , contrive , cook up * , design , devise , discover , draw up , dream up , fabricate , forge , formulate , frame * , fudge together , ghost * , ghostwrite , imagine , indite , invent , knock off * , knock out * , note down , orchestrate , originate , pen , poetize , produce , push pencil , put down , put pen to paper , score , scribble , script , set type , set up , time , turn out , whip up * , writenotes:compose is preferred when the parts of the whole being assembled are regarded as nonconcrete and more general; when the parts are concrete and specific , adjust , allay , appease , arrange , assuage , balm , becalm , check , collect , comfort , console , contain , control , cool , ease , ease up , hold in , lessen , let up , lull , mitigate , moderate , modulate , pacify , placate , quell , quiet , re-collect , reconcile , regulate , rein , relax , repress , resolve , restrain , settle , simmer down , slacken , smother , soften , solace , soothe , still , suppress , temper , tranquilize , tune downnotes:compose is preferred when the parts of the whole being assembled are regarded as nonconcrete and more general; when the parts are concrete and specific , configure , pattern , shape , structure , create , write , accord , alleviate , brief , calm , concoct , conform , dispose , redact