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com|po|si|tion|al /kɒ mpəz I ʃən ^ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Compositional refers to the way composers and artists use their skills or techniques in their work. [TECHNICAL ] □  …Mozart's compositional style.

com|posi|tor /kəmpɒ z I tə ^r / (compositors ) N‑COUNT A compositor is a person who arranges the text and pictures of a book, magazine, or newspaper before it is printed.

com|post /kɒ mpɒst, [AM ] -poʊst/ (composts , composting , composted )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Compost is a mixture of decayed plants and vegetable waste which is added to the soil to help plants grow. □  …a small compost heap.

2 N‑VAR Compost is specially treated soil that you buy and use to grow seeds and plants in pots.

3 VERB To compost things such as unwanted bits of plants means to make them into compost. □ [V n] Cut down and compost spent cucumbers, tomatoes and other crops.

com|po|sure /kəmpoʊ ʒə ^r / N‑UNCOUNT Composure is the appearance or feeling of calm and the ability to control your feelings. [FORMAL ] □  For once Dimbleby lost his composure. It was all he could do to stop tears of mirth falling down his cheeks.

com|pote /kɒ mpoʊt/ (compotes ) N‑VAR Compote is fruit stewed with sugar or in syrup.

com|pound (compounds , compounding , compounded ) The noun is pronounced /kɒ mpaʊnd/. The verb is pronounced /kəmpaʊ nd/. 1 N‑COUNT A compound is an enclosed area of land that is used for a particular purpose. □  Police fired on them as they fled into the embassy compound. □  …a military compound.

2 N‑COUNT In chemistry, a compound is a substance that consists of two or more elements. □  Organic compounds contain carbon in their molecules.

3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If something is a compound of different things, it consists of those things. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Salt in its essential form is a compound of sodium and chlorine.

4 ADJ [ADJ n] Compound is used to indicate that something consists of two or more parts or things. □  …a tall shrub with shiny compound leaves. □  …the compound microscope.

5 ADJ [ADJ n] In grammar, a compound noun, adjective, or verb is one that is made up of two or more words, for example 'fire engine', 'bottle-green', and 'force-feed'.

6 ADJ [ADJ n] In grammar, a compound sentence is one that is made up of two or more main clauses. Compare complex , simple .

7 VERB To compound a problem, difficulty, or mistake means to make it worse by adding to it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Additional bloodshed and loss of life will only compound the tragedy. □ [be V -ed + by ] The problem is compounded by the medical system here.

com|pound|ed /kəmpaʊ nd I d/ ADJ If something is compounded of different things, it is a mixture of those things. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …an emotion oddly compounded of pleasure and bitterness.

co m|pound fra c|ture (compound fractures ) N‑COUNT A compound fracture is a fracture in which the broken bone sticks through the skin.

co m|pound i n|ter|est N‑UNCOUNT Compound interest is interest that is calculated both on an original sum of money and on interest which has previously been added to the sum. Compare simple interest . [BUSINESS ]

com|pre|hend /kɒ mpr I he nd/ (comprehends , comprehending , comprehended ) VERB If you cannot comprehend something, you cannot understand it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] I just cannot comprehend your attitude. □ [V ] Whenever she failed to comprehend she invariably laughed.

com|pre|hen|sible /kɒ mpr I he ns I b ^ə l/ ADJ Something that is comprehensible can be understood. [FORMAL ] □  He spoke abruptly, in barely comprehensible Arabic.

com|pre|hen|sion /kɒ mpr I he nʃ ^ə n/ (comprehensions )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Comprehension is the ability to understand something. [FORMAL ] □  This was utterly beyond her comprehension.