Reference.com

231 results for: composition

Dictionary Entries (13 more entries. View all »)
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
com·po·si·tion    Audio Help   [kom-puh-zish-uhn] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.the act of combining parts or elements to form a whole.
2.the resulting state or product.
3.manner of being composed; structure: This painting has an orderly composition.
4.makeup; constitution: His moral composition was impeccable.
5.an aggregate material formed from two or more substances: a composition of silver and tin.
6.a short essay written as a school exercise.
7.the act or process of producing a literary work.
8.an academic course for teaching the techniques of clear, expository writing.
9.the art of putting words and sentences together in accordance with the rules of grammar and rhetoric.
10.a piece of music.
11.the art of composing music.
12.Fine Arts. the organization or grouping of the different parts of a work of art so as to achieve a unified whole.
13.Grammar. the formation of compounds or derivatives: the composition of “aircraft” from “air” and “craft.”
14.a settlement by mutual agreement.
15.an agreement or compromise, esp. one by which a creditor or group of creditors accepts partial payment from a debtor.
16.a sum of money so paid.
17.Printing.
a.the setting up of type for printing.
b.Also called pagination. the makeup of pages for printing.
18.Mathematics. the process of making a composite function of two given functions.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME composicioun < AF < L compositiōn- (s. of compositiō), equiv. to composit(us) (see composite) + -iōn- -ion]

—Related forms
com·po·si·tion·al, adjective
com·po·si·tion·al·ly, adverb
com·pos·i·tive    Audio Help   [kuhm-poz-i-tiv] Pronunciation Key, adjective
com·pos·i·tive·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Thesaurus Entries
  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus - Cite This Source
Main Entry:  composition
Part of Speech:  noun
Definition:  Something that is the result of creative effort.
Synonyms:  opus, piece, production, work
Source:  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition
by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary.
Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus - Cite This Source
Main Entry:  composition
Part of Speech:  noun
Definition:  A relatively brief discourse written especially as an exercise.
Synonyms:  essay, paper, theme
Source:  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition
by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary.
Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus - Cite This Source
Main Entry:  compromise
Part of Speech:  noun
Definition:  A settlement of differences through mutual concession.
Synonyms:  accommodation, arrangement, give-and-take, medium, settlement
Source:  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition
by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary.
Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.


Encyclopedia Articles (213 more entries. View all »)
Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia - Cite This Source

composition, in art, the organization of forms and colors within the work of art. In traditional sculpture this means the arrangement of masses and planes. In representational painting it means the grouping of forms on a two-dimensional plane in depth. In abstract painting forms are generally composed on planes parallel to the picture surface. In illusionistic works (see illusionism) with advanced perspective, forms are arranged to accord with the laws of depth perception.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright © 2004, Columbia University Press.
Licensed from Columbia University Press


View results from: Dictionary | Thesaurus | Encyclopedia | All Reference | the Web

Perform a new search, or try your search for "composition" at: