- Composition metal
- Composition Com`po*si"tion, n. [F. composition, fr. L.
compositio. See {Composite}.]
1. The act or art of composing, or forming a whole or
integral, by placing together and uniting different
things, parts, or ingredients. In specific uses:
(a) The invention or combination of the parts of any
literary work or discourse, or of a work of art; as,
the composition of a poem or a piece of music. ``The
constant habit of elaborate composition.'' --Macaulay.
(b) (Fine Arts) The art or practice of so combining the
different parts of a work of art as to produce a
harmonious whole; also, a work of art considered as
such. See 4, below.
(c) The act of writing for practice in a language, as
English, Latin, German, etc.
(d) (Print.) The setting up of type and arranging it for
printing.
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2. The state of being put together or composed; conjunction; combination; adjustment. [1913 Webster]
View them in composition with other things. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]
The elementary composition of bodies. --Whewell. [1913 Webster]
3. A mass or body formed by combining two or more substances; as, a chemical composition. [1913 Webster]
A composition that looks . . . like marble. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
4. A literary, musical, or artistic production, especially one showing study and care in arrangement; -- often used of an elementary essay or translation done as an educational exercise. [1913 Webster]
5. Consistency; accord; congruity. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
There is no composition in these news That gives them credit. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
6. Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement of a difference or controversy; also, the terms or conditions of settlement; agreement. [1913 Webster]
Thus we are agreed: I crave our composition may be written. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
7. (Law) The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation agreed upon in the adjustment. [1913 Webster]
Compositions for not taking the order of knighthood. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]
Cleared by composition with their creditors. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]
8. Synthesis as opposed to analysis. [1913 Webster]
The investigation of difficult things by the method of analysis ought ever to precede the method of composition. --Sir I. Newton. [1913 Webster]
{Composition cloth}, a kind of cloth covered with a preparation making it waterproof.
{Composition deed}, an agreement for composition between a debtor and several creditors.
{Composition plane} (Crystallog.), the plane by which the two individuals of a twin crystal are united in their reserved positions.
{Composition of forces} (Mech.), the finding of a single force (called the resultant) which shall be equal in effect to two or more given forces (called the components) when acting in given directions. --Herbert.
{Composition metal}, an alloy resembling brass, which is sometimes used instead of copper for sheathing vessels; -- also called {Muntz metal} and {yellow metal}.
{Composition of proportion} (Math.), an arrangement of four proportionals so that the sum of the first and second is to the second as the sum of the third and fourth to the fourth. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.