comprise

[ kuhm-prahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, com·prised, com·pris·ing.

1. to include or contain:

   The Soviet Union comprised several socialist republics.

2. to consist of; be composed of:

   The advisory board comprises six members.

3. to form or constitute:

   Seminars and lectures comprised the day's activities.

comprise

/ kəmˈpraɪz /

verb

1. to include; contain
2. to constitute the whole of; consist of

   her singing comprised the entertainment

Usage

The use of of after comprise should be avoided: the library comprises (not comprises of ) 500 000 books and manuscripts

Derived Forms

• comˈprisal, noun
• comˈprisable, adjective

Other Words From

• com·pris·a·ble adjective
• com·pris·al noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of comprise¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English comprisen, from Middle French compris (past participle of comprendre ), from Latin comprehēnsus; comprehension

Word History and Origins

Origin of comprise¹

C15: from French compris included, understood, from comprendre to comprehend

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be comprised of, to consist of; be composed of:

   The sales network is comprised of independent outlets and chain stores.

Synonym Study

See include.

Example Sentences

More places are needed as the Ipswich Garden Suburb development, which could comprise 3,500 new homes, is built.

From BBC

The docuseries revisits Manson’s life before he made his way to Berkeley and became the leader of a hippy-like commune comprising mostly young women.

From Los Angeles Times

As the Guns N’ Roses bassist says, the songs that comprise that album were rooted in the reality of 1980s Hollywood.

From Los Angeles Times

He also characterized the antebellum North as “the mere cringing vassal of the South” and a section of the country that contained “lords” and “nobles” of its own that comprised an “aristocracy of the skin.”

From Salon

But Sam believes his course still represents good value, because each hour of lectures or seminars also comprises three hours of external study.

From BBC

Related Words

• amount to
• compose
• constitute
• contain
• cover
• encompass
• form
• hold
• include
• involve
• span