composite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal, with technical and specialized usage.
Quick answer
What does “composite” mean?
Something made by combining separate parts or elements.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Something made by combining separate parts or elements.
Describing a material or structure composed of distinct, artificially combined components, or a conceptual whole formed from diverse sources; in botany, referring to a large family of flowering plants; in mathematics, a number with more than two factors.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. The stress pattern in pronunciation is more variable in BrE. The term is used in similar technical fields in both varieties.
Connotations
Technical/scientific connotations in both. In everyday use, slightly more formal in BrE.
Frequency
Comparatively similar frequency across registers; high in engineering, materials science, and academic writing.
Grammar
How to Use “composite” in a Sentence
composite of [noun plural]composite made from/ofcomposite [noun] consisting ofVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “composite” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The graphic designer will composite several scans to create the final cover art.
- They composited the satellite images to monitor coastal erosion.
American English
- The VFX artist composited the CGI monster into the live-action scene.
- We need to composite these survey results into a single report.
adverb
British English
- Not standardly used.
American English
- Not standardly used.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in finance for indices (e.g., composite index) and in management for teams or metrics drawn from multiple sources.
Academic
Common in materials science, engineering, botany (Composite family), and social sciences for constructed measures.
Everyday
Describing photos made from several images, or objects made from mixed materials.
Technical
Refers to engineered materials like carbon-fibre composites, or composite numbers in mathematics.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “composite”
- Mispronouncing as /ˈkɒmpəzaɪt/.
- Using as a verb where 'combine' or 'compile' is better (e.g., 'They composited the data' sounds technical).
- Confusing with 'composition' (the act of composing or a written work).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In general use, they are synonyms. In technical contexts, 'composite' often implies the components remain physically distinct within the material, while 'compound' implies a chemical union.
Yes, but it is relatively rare and mostly confined to technical fields like graphics, photography, and data processing, meaning 'to combine into a composite whole'.
In mathematics, it is a positive integer that has at least one positive divisor other than one or itself (e.g., 4, 6, 8, 9).
In British English, stress is usually on the first syllable: /ˈkɒmpəzɪt/. In American English, stress is commonly on the second syllable: /kəmˈpɑːzɪt/.
Something made by combining separate parts or elements.
Composite is usually neutral to formal, with technical and specialized usage. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common idiomatic use.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COMPOSER who brings different musical NOTES together to make a song. A COMPOSITE brings different PARTS together to make an object.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUILDING/BLENDING (A composite is a structure built from pieces; a blend of ingredients).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'composite' LEAST likely to be used in its technical sense?