What is the meaning of the word composition

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Composition or Compositions may refer to:

Arts and literature[edit]

Composition (dance), practice and teaching of choreography
Composition (language), in literature and rhetoric, producing a work in spoken tradition and written discourse, to include visuals and digital space
Composition (music), an original piece of music and its creation
Composition (visual arts), the plan, placement or arrangement of the elements of art in a work
Composition (Peeters), a 1921 painting by Jozef Peeters
Composition studies, the professional field of writing instruction
Compositions (album), an album by Anita Baker
Digital compositing, the practice of digitally piecing together a video

Computer science[edit]

Function composition (computer science), an act or mechanism to combine simple functions to build more complicated ones
Object composition, combining simpler data types into more complex data types, or function calls into calling functions

History[edit]

Composition of 1867, Austro-Hungarian/German history, (Ausgleich)
Committee for Compounding with Delinquents, English Civil War
Composition in the Tudor conquest of Ireland
- Composition of Connacht

Mathematics[edit]

Composition (combinatorics), a way of writing a positive integer as a sum of positive integers
Composition algebra, an algebra over a field with composing norm:
Function composition, an operation that takes functions and gives a single function as the result
Composition of relations, an operation that takes relations and gives a single relation as the result
Binary function or law of composition

Other uses[edit]

Composition (fine), in legal terminology, a fine accepted in exchange to not prosecute
Composition (objects), in philosophy, the relationship between a whole and its parts
Chemical composition, the relative amounts of elements that constitute a substance, or the relative amount of substances that constitute a mixture
Food composition

Synonyms

Example Sentences

the changing composition of the country’s population

the composition of a chemical compound

The teacher reminded us to hand in our compositions at the end of class.

Recent Examples on the Web

Since its debut, BTS’ musical appeal has reached globally largely through the septet’s extended metaphors and imagery, translating into accessible storytelling alongside boundary-pushing compositions and choreography.

—Jeff Benjamin, Billboard, 7 Apr. 2023

The company’s CoolTrac material composition reportedly offers 136 percent more traction and stays up to 18 percent cooler than other composite decking brands.

—Kelsey Mulvey, House Beautiful, 6 Apr. 2023

Directed with aplomb by Singing Chen, the heartbreaking docudrama recounts the history of political repression in mid-century Taiwan, filling a 360 screen with handsome chiaroscuro compositions supporting classical film language.

—Ben Croll, Variety, 5 Apr. 2023

The program, which took nearly a year to develop, included researching the composers, discovering their individual bodies of work and determining how many compositions survived the war.

—Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2023

The team compared these results to the remains of Troodon eggshells and did not not detect the isotopic composition which is typical for birds.

—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2023

In recent years, Mr. Sakamoto turned his attention to intertwining environmental themes into his compositions.

—Tim Greiving, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Apr. 2023

With an artist’s approach to material and composition, Draga & Aurel cleverly reinvents bespoke vintage design pieces, earning recognition from the design world.

—Damon Johnstun, oregonlive, 2 Apr. 2023

The protein in powders is usually sourced from either plants or animals, which means their differences lie in their amino acid profiles and composition, Kanski explains.

—Jasmine Gomez, Women’s Health, 31 Mar. 2023

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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘composition.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English composicioun, from Anglo-French composicion, from Latin composition-, compositio, from componere — see compose

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of composition was
in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near composition

Cite this Entry

“Composition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composition. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.

More from Merriam-Webster on composition

Last Updated:
11 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

Источник

Composition (from Lat. Compositio — composing, linking, adding) is a combination of different parts into a single whole. In our life, this term is encountered quite often, therefore, in various fields of activity, the meaning changes slightly.

What is composition

Instructions

Step 1

Most often, the word «composition» can be found in the visual arts. This is the construction of a work of art, united by a common idea and character, in which everything is thought out to the smallest detail. The main thing in the composition is the artistic image, which not only has an inherent meaning, but also depicts the connection between the artist’s soul and the requirement of the time in which the picture is painted. Each composition corresponds to a certain creative search, therefore it is capable of evoking completely different emotions.

Step 2

In literature, «composition» refers to the location and coherence of a work of art, united by the author’s intention. Its elements include: parts and chapters, prefaces and scenes, dialogues and monologues, songs, etc. Descriptions of landscapes and portraits are also included in the composition. However, it cannot be regarded as a sequence of elements, it is an integral system of forms determined by the content of the work.

Step 3

The science of architectural composition studies the general patterns of building a project and the object of architecture itself. The composition itself is created by three types of means: the arrangement of volumes in space; relation, proportions, symmetry, color, scale of architectural volumes and their parts, details; the inclusion and use of elements of painting, sculpture, landscape gardening art.

Step 4

A composition in music is a piece of music that also carries a certain inherent meaning. Sounds convey the inner state of the composer, important life events, emotions (joy, sadness, etc.), etc. A multitude of techniques that convey certain shades create one integral composition.

Step 5

All types of compositions in different areas have their own characteristics, which intersect in one thing: the combination of many components into one whole work that makes sense.

Источник

In the literary sense, a composition (from the Latin «to put together») is the way a writer assembles words and sentences to create a coherent and meaningful work. Composition can also mean the activity of writing, the nature of the subject of a piece of writing, the piece of writing itself, and the name of a college course assigned to a student. This essay focuses on practicing how people write.

Key Takeaways

In writing, composition refers to the way a writer structures a piece of writing.
The four modes of composition, which were codified in the late 19th century, are description, narration, exposition, and argumentation.
Good writing can include elements of multiple modes of composition.

Composition Definition

Just like a musician and an artist, a writer sets the tone of a composition to his or her purpose, making decisions about what that tone should be to form a structure. A writer might express anything from the point of view of cool logic to impassioned anger. A composition might use clean and simple prose, flowery, descriptive passages, or analytical nomenclature.

Since the 19th century, English writers and teachers have been grappling with ways to classify forms and modes of writing so beginner writers can have a place to start. After decades of struggle, rhetoricians ended up with four categories of writing that still make up the mainstream of Composition 101 college classes: Description, Narration, Exposition, and Argumentation.

The four classical types of composition (description, narration, exposition, and argumentation) are not categories, per se. They would almost never stand alone in a piece of writing, but rather are best-considered modes of writing, pieces of writing styles that can be combined and used to create a whole. That is to say, they can inform a piece of writing, and they are good starting points for understanding how to put a piece of writing together.

Examples for each of the following composition types are based on the American poet Gertrude Stein’s famous quote from «Sacred Emily,» her 1913 poem: «A rose is a rose is a rose.»

Description

A description, or descriptive writing, is a statement or account that describes something or someone, listing characteristic features and significant details to provide a reader with a portrayal in words. Descriptions are set in the concrete, in the reality, or solidity of an object as a representation of a person, place, or thing in time. They provide the look and feel of objects, a simultaneous whole, with as many details as you’d like.

A description of a rose might include the color of the petals, the aroma of its perfume, where it exists in your garden, whether it is in a plain terracotta pot or a hothouse in the city.

A description of «Sacred Emily» might talk about the length of the poem and the facts of when it was written and published. It might list the images that Stein uses or mention her use of repetition and alliteration.

Narration

A narration, or narrative writing, is a personal account, a story that the writer tells his or her reader. It can be an account of a series of facts or events, given in order and establishing connections between the steps. It can even be dramatic, in which case you can present each individual scene with actions and dialog. The chronology could be in strict order, or you could include flashbacks.

A narration about a rose might describe how you first came across it, how it came to be in your garden, or why you went to the greenhouse that day.

A narration about «Sacred Emily» might be about how you came across the poem, whether it was in a class or in a book lent by a friend, or if you were simply curious about where the phrase «a rose is a rose» came from and found it on the internet.

Exposition

Exposition, or expository writing, is the act of expounding or explaining a person, place, thing, or event. Your purpose is not to just describe something, but to give it a reality, an interpretation, your ideas on what that thing means. In some respects, you are laying out a proposition to explain a general notion or abstract idea of your subject.

An exposition on a rose might include its taxonomy, what its scientific and common names are, who developed it, what the impact was when it was announced to the public, and/or how was it distributed.

An exposition on «Sacred Emily» could include the environment in which Stein wrote, where she was living, what her influences were, and what the impact was on reviewers.

Argumentation

Also called argumentative writing, an argumentation is basically an exercise in comparing and contrasting. It is the methodological presentation of both sides of an argument using logical or formal reasoning. The end result is formulated to persuade why thing A is better than thing B. What you mean by «better» makes up the content of your arguments.

Argumentation applied to a rose might be why one particular rose is better than another, why you prefer roses over daisies, or vice versa.

Argumentation over «Sacred Emily» could compare it to Stein’s other poems or to another poem covering the same general topic.

The Value of Composition

A great deal of debate enlivened college theoretical rhetoric in the 1970s and 1980s, with scholars attempting to throw off what they saw were the confining strictures of these four writing styles. Despite that, they remain the mainstay of some college composition classes.

What these four classical modes do is provide beginner writers a way to purposefully direct their writings, a structure on which to form an idea. However, they can also be limiting. Use the traditional modes of composition as tools to gain practice and direction in your writing, but remember that they should be considered starting points rather than rigid requirements.

Sources

Bishop, Wendy. «Keywords in Creative Writing.» David Starkey, Utah State University Press, University Press of Colorado, 2006.
Conners, Professor Robert J. «Composition-Rhetoric: Backgrounds, Theory, and Pedagogy.» Pittsburgh Series in Composition, Literacy, and Culture, Hardcover, New ed. Edition, University of Pittsburgh Press, June 1, 1997.
D’Angelo, Frank. «Nineteenth-Century Forms/Modes of Discourse: A Critical Inquiry.» Vol. 35, No. 1, National Council of Teachers of English, February 1984.
Hintikka, Jaakko. «Strategic Thinking in Argumentation and Argumentation Theory.» Vol. 50, No. 196 (2), Revue Internationale de Philosophie, 1996.
Perron, Jack. «Composition and Cognition.» English Education, The Writing Teacher: A New Professionalism, Vol. 10, No. 3, National Council of Teachers of English, February 1979.
Stein, Gertrude. «Sacred Emily.» Geography and Plays, Letters of Note, 1922.

Источник

Arts and literature[edit]

Computer science[edit]

History[edit]

Mathematics[edit]

Other uses[edit]

See also[edit]

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near composition

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More from Merriam-Webster on composition

Instructions

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Key Takeaways

Composition Definition

Description

Narration

Exposition

Argumentation

The Value of Composition

Sources