Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Composition has 10 different meanings across 1 category:
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
"harmonious composition is essential in a serious work of art"
the way in which someone or something is composed
"The jury's composition was so diverse that they quickly reached a unanimous verdict on the complex case."
a mixture of ingredients
"The chef adjusted the recipe because she wanted to improve the composition of the sauce by adding more butter and cream."
a musical work that has been created
"the composition is written in four movements"
musical creation
"The orchestra gathered to perform Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, a monumental composition that has inspired generations of musicians."
the act of creating written works
"writing was a form of therapy for him"
"it was a matter of disputed authorship"
art and technique of printing with movable type
"The museum curator explained that Gutenberg's revolutionary composition involved arranging individual metal letters into frames to print pages efficiently."
an essay (especially one written as an assignment)
"he got an A on his composition"
something that is created by arranging several things to form a unified whole
"he envied the composition of their faculty"
The act of putting together; assembly.
"The final composition of the team was decided after three rounds of auditions."
In plain English: Composition is the way parts are put together to make something whole.
"The musical composition was played by the orchestra."
Usage: In everyday usage, composition refers to the specific parts or ingredients that make up something, such as the elements in a chemical mixture or the topics covered in an essay. Do not confuse it with the act of assembling those parts, which is better described as construction or arrangement.
The word composition entered English via the Old French composicion, which itself came from the Latin compositiō. Its original meaning of "a putting together" has remained consistent in modern usage.