GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 3 definitions 

  1.       

    Composition , n. [F. composition, fr. L. compositio. See Composite.]
    1. The act or art of composing, or forming a whole or integral, by placing together and uniting different things, parts, or ingredients. In specific uses: (a) The invention or combination of the parts of any literary work or discourse, or of a work of art; as, the composition of a poem or a piece of music. “The constant habit of elaborate composition.” Macaulay. (b) (Fine Arts) The art or practice of so combining the different parts of a work of art as to produce a harmonious whole; also, a work of art considered as such. See 4, below. (c) The act of writing for practice in a language, as English, Latin, German, etc. (d) (Print.) The setting up of type and arranging it for printing.
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    2. The state of being put together or composed; conjunction; combination; adjustment.
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      View them in composition with other things.
      I. Watts.

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      The elementary composition of bodies.
      Whewell.

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    3. A mass or body formed by combining two or more substances; as, a chemical composition.
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      A composition that looks . . . like marble.
      Addison.

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    4. A literary, musical, or artistic production, especially one showing study and care in arrangement; -- often used of an elementary essay or translation done as an educational exercise.
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    5. Consistency; accord; congruity. [Obs.]
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      There is no composition in these news
      That gives them credit.
      Shak.

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    6. Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement of a difference or controversy; also, the terms or conditions of settlement; agreement.
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      Thus we are agreed:
      I crave our composition may be written.
      Shak.

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    7. (Law) The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation agreed upon in the adjustment.
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      Compositions for not taking the order of knighthood.
      Hallam.

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      Cleared by composition with their creditors.
      Blackstone.

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    8. Synthesis as opposed to analysis.
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      The investigation of difficult things by the method of analysis ought ever to precede the method of composition.
      Sir I. Newton.

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      Composition cloth, a kind of cloth covered with a preparation making it waterproof. -- Composition deed, an agreement for composition between a debtor and several creditors. -- Composition plane (Crystallog.), the plane by which the two individuals of a twin crystal are united in their reserved positions. -- Composition of forces (Mech.), the finding of a single force (called the resultant) which shall be equal in effect to two or more given forces (called the components) when acting in given directions. Herbert. -- Composition metal, an alloy resembling brass, which is sometimes used instead of copper for sheathing vessels; -- also called Muntz metal and yellow metal. -- Composition of proportion (Math.), an arrangement of four proportionals so that the sum of the first and second is to the second as the sum of the third and fourth to the fourth.
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  2.       

    Metal , n. [F. métal, L. metallum metal, mine, Gr.  mine; cf. Gr.  to search after. Cf. Mettle, Medal.]
    1. (Chem.) An elementary substance, as sodium, calcium, or copper, whose oxide or hydroxide has basic rather than acid properties, as contrasted with the nonmetals, or metalloids. No sharp line can be drawn between the metals and nonmetals, and certain elements partake of both acid and basic qualities, as chromium, manganese, bismuth, etc.
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      ☞ Popularly, the name is applied to certain hard, fusible metals, as gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, zinc, nickel, etc., and also to the mixed metals, or metallic alloys, as brass, bronze, steel, bell metal, etc.
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    2. Ore from which a metal is derived; -- so called by miners.
      Raymond.

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    3. A mine from which ores are taken. [Obs.]
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      Slaves . . . and persons condemned to metals.
      Jer. Taylor.

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    4. The substance of which anything is made; material; hence, constitutional disposition; character; temper.
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      Not till God make men of some other metal than earth.
      Shak.

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    5. Courage; spirit; mettle. See Mettle.
      Shak.

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      ☞ The allusion is to the temper of the metal of a sword blade.
      Skeat.

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    6. The broken stone used in macadamizing roads and ballasting railroads.
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    7. The effective power or caliber of guns carried by a vessel of war.
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    8. Glass in a state of fusion.
      Knight.

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    9. pl. The rails of a railroad. [Eng.]
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      Base metal (Chem.), any one of the metals, as iron, lead, etc., which are readily tarnished or oxidized, in contrast with the noble metals. In general, a metal of small value, as compared with gold or silver. -- Fusible metal (Metal.), a very fusible alloy, usually consisting of bismuth with lead, tin, or cadmium. -- Heavy metals (Chem.), the metallic elements not included in the groups of the alkalies, alkaline earths, or the earths; specifically, the heavy metals, as gold, mercury, platinum, lead, silver, etc. -- Light metals (Chem.), the metallic elements of the alkali and alkaline earth groups, as sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.; also, sometimes, the metals of the earths, as aluminium. -- Muntz metal, an alloy for sheathing and other purposes, consisting of about sixty per cent of copper, and forty of zinc. Sometimes a little lead is added. It is named from the inventor. -- Prince's metal (Old Chem.), an alloy resembling brass, consisting of three parts of copper to one of zinc; -- also called Prince Rupert's metal.
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  3.       

    Muntz metal . See under Metal.
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