Composite Meaning
/ˈkɒmpəzɪt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjMade up of multiple components; compound or complex.
adjBeing a mixture of Ionic and Corinthian styles.
Sentence Examples
This piece is made of a composite material that I cannot identify.
After experimenting in their garage workshops, they created new, natural composite materials.
This ghost photo is well made, but it's just a composite.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The artist created a ____ image by merging several photographs of the landscape.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The airplane body is made from a lightweight but strong ____ material.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Middle French composite, from Latin compositus, past participle of compōnō (“put together”). Doublet of compost, compote, and kompot.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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)"
— 1960 February 26, R. K. Kirkland, “The Great Western and Brentford Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 81:
"[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."
— 1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., page 92:
"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."
— 1963 April, “New Inter-City diesel multiple-units for W.R.”, in Modern Railways, page 266:
"[…] likely give offense to conscience or moral feelings or shock the sense of decency or propriety in a substantial composite of the general public"
— 1991 December 1, Jacob Smith Yang, quoting U.S. Trademark Office, “Old Glory Condoms Denied Patent”, in Gay Community News, volume 19, number 20, page 2:
"Insurance as an industry is a major composite of the financial sector of any economy all over the world, Nigeria inclusive."
— 2019, J. M. Odachi, S. E. Okon, “Organisational Culture and Perception of Service Quality among Employees in the Insurance Industry in Nigeria”, in UNILAG Journal of Humanities, volume 7, number 2, page 160:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The artist created a ____ image by merging several photographs of the landscape.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The airplane body is made from a lightweight but strong ____ material.