# compose

> English word · Verb · IPA /kəmˈpəʊz/ · frequency rank #15,781

## Definitions
1. To make something by merging parts.
2. To make up the whole; to constitute.
3. To comprise.
4. To construct by mental labor; to think up; particularly, to produce or create a literary or musical work.
5. To calm; to free from agitation.
6. To arrange the elements of a photograph or other picture.
7. To settle (an argument, dispute etc.); to come to a settlement.
8. To arrange in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition.
9. To arrange (types) in a composing stick for printing; to typeset.

## Etymology
From Middle English composen, from Old French composer (“to compose, compound, adjust, settle”), from com- + poser, as an adaptation of Latin componere (“to put together, compose”), from com- (“together”) + ponere (“to put, place”).

## Easily confused with
- **corpse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compose-vs-corpse)
- **compute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compose-vs-compute)
- **compost** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compose-vs-compost)
- **composed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compose-vs-composed)
- **composer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compose-vs-composer)
- **comprise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compose-vs-comprise)
- **composite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compose-vs-composite)
- **composure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compose-vs-composure)
- **compare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compare-vs-compose)
- **compete** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compete-vs-compose)
- **compass** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compass-vs-compose)
- **compile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compile-vs-compose)
- **comatose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/comatose-vs-compose)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ccompose`, `cmopose`, `commpose`, `comopse`, `compoes`, `composse`, `comppose`, `compsoe`, `copmose`, `ocmpose`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/compose