French word

composer

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔ̃poze/

Meaning

  • verbcompile

Example

Elle compose la liste des invités.

She compiles the guest list.

Illustration for composer (compile)

More examples

Elle compose un dossier pour la réunion.

She is putting together a dossier for the meeting.

Core concept

Separate elements being arranged into one complete whole.

Common phrases

  • composer une liste

    draw up a list

  • composer un dossier

    put together a dossier

Similar words

rédiger: To write a text or document by developing its content.
préparer: To arrange the needed items or steps in advance.
assembler: To join separate parts into a single structure.
créer: To think of and bring something new into existence.

Definition in French

Constituer ou former un ensemble à partir d'éléments; on emploie aussi la forme pronominale «se composer» pour indiquer la composition d'un tout.

Word origin

French composer comes from Latin componere, formed from com- 'together' and ponere 'to put'.

Usage tips

  • With a direct object, composer takes the thing being assembled directly, as in composer la liste des invités; se composer de introduces the parts of a whole.

Other meanings

  • dialverb
  • composeverb

Opposites

  • décomposerbreak downverb

Related words

Word lists with this word