composite
/ˈkɒmpəzɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [kəmpˈɑzət] /kəmˈpɑːzət/ (ame, ipa) · [kəmpˈɑzət] /kəm-ˈpä-zət käm-ˈpä- especially British ˈkäm-pə-zit/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkɒm.pə.zɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [kəmpˈɑzət] /kəmˈpɑː.zɪt/ (ame, ipa)
composite — adjective
- compositepositive
- more compositecomparative
- most compositesuperlative
1. describes something that is formed by bringing together several different parts,
describes something that is formed by bringing together several different parts, elements, or pieces into a single whole
Dr. Karim's report was a composite document drawing on interviews, field notes, and soil test results.
Amani built a composite sculpture from driftwood, old copper pipes, and broken tiles.
collocation: composite sculpture / composite image / composite sketch
Ritu combined photos from two telescopes to build a composite image of a passing comet.
Hui created a composite sketch of the thief from four different witness descriptions.
The gymnast's composite score was calculated by averaging marks from three different judges.
- compound
emphasises that parts are chemically or structurally fused together, not just placed side by side
- complex
stresses that the whole is intricate or hard to understand, not just made of many parts
- heterogeneous
formal; focuses on the parts being unlike each other in nature, rather than on their combination
2. describes an object or material made from two or more different substances that
describes an object or material made from two or more different substances that remain separate within it, each contributing its own useful property
Manuela replaced her old deck with composite boards that look like wood but never rot.
collocation: composite board / composite material
Linh's new racing bicycle has a composite frame that is strong yet very light.
The dentist filled Dahlia's tooth with a tooth-coloured composite resin that hardened under blue light.
The A350's wings use composite panels instead of solid aluminium to save weight.
- laminated
specifically describes materials made of thin layers glued together
- reinforced
focuses on one material being strengthened by adding another, not on equal combination
- solid
made of a single material throughout, such as solid wood or solid metal
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is used almost only for physical objects and manufactured materials, not for abstract things like reports or scores.
composite — noun
- compositesingular
- compositesplural
1. a single thing that is created by putting together several different parts, elem
a single thing that is created by putting together several different parts, elements, or influences
Hugo's final painting was a composite of sketches he had made over thirty years of travel.
Lakshmi's teaching style was a composite of her mother's warmth and her father's strict discipline.
pattern: a composite of [noun] and [noun]
The Mekong Delta map was a composite drawn from navy charts, satellite photos, and local fishermen's knowledge.
The hero of Bao's documentary was a composite based on three real leaders from the 1990s.
The index is a composite of stock prices from the fifty biggest listed companies.
- combination
more everyday; less formal and less likely to appear in technical or academic writing
- mixture
suggests the parts are blended together and may lose their separate identities
- amalgam
formal; often used of ideas, cultures, or styles rather than physical objects
- single element
something that consists of only one part, not a combination
文法句型
a composite of [plural noun]
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' to name the parts that make up the whole. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense can describe anything made of different parts, including abstract things, while sense 2 is limited to physical building materials.
2. a strong, lightweight material made by combining two or more different substance
a strong, lightweight material made by combining two or more different substances, used especially in construction, aircraft, boats, and sports equipment
Stefan chose composite for the river footbridge because it will not rust like the old steel one.
Omar's tennis racket is made of a carbon-fibre composite that bends without snapping.
collocation: carbon-fibre composite
The Swedish ferry's hull uses a lightweight composite that cuts fuel consumption by nearly twenty percent.
Lan's research team developed a new composite that can withstand heat up to eight hundred degrees.
- composite material
the full technical term; 'composite' is the shortened form common in industry
- laminate
a type of composite made of thin layers bonded together under heat or pressure
用法筆記
Used as an uncountable mass noun in this sense: you say 'made of composite', not 'made of a composite'. Distinguish from noun sense 1, which is countable ('a composite of several parts').
常見錯誤
composite — verb
- compositepresent simple I / you / we / they
- composites3rd person singular
- compositing-ing form
- compositedpast simple
1. to combine several different parts, elements, or images to form a single unified
to combine several different parts, elements, or images to form a single unified thing
Madison composited hours of interview footage into a fifteen-minute documentary about the city's water crisis.
pattern: composite [source] into [result]
The family snapshots were composited into a single digital album for Walid's grandmother's birthday.
Tamar composited live-action shots with computer-generated backgrounds for the film's final space battle.
A single report on air quality and childhood illness was composited from three neighbourhood surveys.
- combine
the everyday word; 'composite' is more technical and often implies a creative or analytical process
- merge
focuses on blending things so the original boundaries disappear
- synthesise
formal; emphasises creating something new from the parts rather than just joining them
文法句型
composite + [noun]
用法筆記
Most often used in technical or creative fields such as film editing, photography, data analysis, and design. Less common in everyday speech; 'combine' or 'merge' are more natural in casual conversation.