Basic Details
Word: Composition
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A piece of writing or music someone has created; also what something is made of, or the way its parts are arranged.
Synonyms: essay, piece, make-up, arrangement
How to Spell Composition
Syllables: com - po - si - tion
Tricky part: The sound zi is spelt si, and the vowel before tion is i. Students often write compozition or composetion.
Watch out for: composetion, compozition, compositon
Memory tip: Pose for a photo, then sit: com + po + sit + ion. Composition has sit in it.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Kavya's composition on the monsoon was read out in the assembly.
Example 2: A sitar player performed his own composition at the festival.
Example 3: The photographer thought carefully about the composition of each picture.
Fun Fact
Composition comes from Latin componere, to put together. Component, compost and compound all come from the same verb.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to composition as used in the sentence:
Our English homework was a short composition on the best day of the summer holidays.
a) riddle
b) essay
c) headline
d) timetable
Show answer
b) essay. A composition set as homework is a piece of writing, an essay.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
comp_s_tion
a) o, e
b) o, o
c) a, i
d) o, i
Show answer
d) o, i. Think of pose and sit: o goes in the first blank and i in the second.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Scientists tested the tisnoocmipo of the soil samples from the riverbed.
a) competition
b) composition
c) compassion
d) opposition
Show answer
b) composition. Competition needs an e, opposition has no c or m, and compassion has an a; only composition fits.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A musical composition is ____.
a) a piece of music someone has written
b) a concert ticket
c) a type of drum
d) a music teacher
Show answer
a) a piece of music someone has written
2. The person who writes a musical composition is called a ____.
a) composer
b) compositor
c) commentator
d) conductor
Show answer
a) composer
