Comprise Meaning
/kəmˈpɹaɪz/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo be made up of; to consist of (especially a comprehensive list of parts).
verbTo compose; to constitute.
Sentence Examples
Uyghurs comprise the majority in Kashgar.
Though very outspoken, purists do not comprise the majority on Tatoeba.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The national team will ____ twelve players from various clubs.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Ten individual students ultimately ____ the entire university debate team.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English comprisen, from Old French compris, past participle of comprendre, from Latin comprehendere, contr. comprendere, past participle comprehensus (“to comprehend”); see comprehend. Compare apprise, reprise, surprise.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Arsenal were playing without a recognised full-back - their defence comprising four centre-halves - and the lack of width was hindering their progress."
— 2011 December 10, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 1-0 Everton”, in BBC Sport:
"Three chairs of the steamer type, all maimed, comprised the furniture of this roof-garden, with (by way of local color) on one of the copings a row of four red clay flower-pots filled with sun-baked dust from which gnarled and rusty stalks thrust themselves up like withered elfin limbs."
— 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter I (Anarchy), pages 377–378:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The national team will ____ twelve players from various clubs.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Ten individual students ultimately ____ the entire university debate team.