composite
/kəmˈpɑzɪt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.94 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Made up of multiple components; compound or complex.
adj
Being a mixture of Ionic and Corinthian styles.
adj
Belonging to the Asteraceae family (formerly known as Compositae), bearing involucrate heads of many small florets.
adj
Employing multiple exposures on a single plate, so as to create an average view of something, such as faces in physiognomy.
noun
A mixture of different components.
noun
A structural material that gains its strength from a combination of complementary materials.
noun
A plant belonging to the family Asteraceae, syn. Compositae.
Example Sentences
- "The line then falls on a gradient of 1 in 102 to the point at Windmill Lane, known locally as the "Three Bridges," where there is a composite crossing of road, canal and railway, all at the same point. The road is carried over the canal by an orthodox-style bridge, the canal being contained in a cast-iron trough, 8 ft. deep, which passes at an acute angle over the railway. (This arrangement at Southall remains the same in 2026)"
- "composite portraiture; a composite photograph"
- "[B]y photographing a number of faces on the same plate, and so superimposing their images on one another, he produces a so-called "composite" photograph or image."
- "The units are made up as either: [...] Trailer composite—4 first-class compartments—24 seats; and 3 second-class compartments—24 seats, [...] A total of 40 vehicles are to be built, Ten of each type of power car, ten trailer composites, five trailer seconds and five trailer second/buffets."
- "[…] likely give offense to conscience or moral feelings or shock the sense of decency or propriety in a substantial composite of the general public"
- "Insurance as an industry is a major composite of the financial sector of any economy all over the world, Nigeria inclusive."
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French composite, from Latin compositus, past participle of compōnō (“put together”). Doublet of compost, compote, and kompot.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: composite, compositus
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /kəmˈpɑzɪt/
- British English: /ˈkɒmpəzɪt/
Usage
- British usage
Inflected Forms
more composite (comparative)
most composite (superlative)
composites (plural)
composites (present, singular)
compositing (participle, present)
composited (participle, past)
composited (past)