WordValecomposition
the arrangement of elements in a work of art
In more detail
1. (noun) a piece of music, poetry, or writing that someone has created
2. (noun) the way something is made up or arranged; what it consists of
3. (noun) a short piece of writing done as a school assignment
Examples
- Beethoven wrote that famous composition in 1824.
- The composition of the soil determines how well plants grow.
- My teacher asked us to write a composition about our summer vacation.
How to use composition
Composition refers to both the creative product itself (a symphony or essay) and the structural makeup of something (the composition of the soil). In educational contexts, it specifically means a brief written assignment. The term is neutral across most uses but carries a slightly more formal or technical tone than 'piece' or 'work', particularly when discussing artistic or structural analysis.
Common phrases
- musical composition
- composition of
- write a composition
- original composition
- chemical composition
Synonyms
piece · work · creation · writing · arrangement
Word family
compose · composer · composite
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use 'composition' to mean the act of creating (composing), but the noun refers to the finished product or its structure, not the process itself.
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