verb
comprise
kuhm-PRYZ
verb
1
To consist of or be made up of particular parts.
"The committee comprises twelve elected members."
2
To make up or form something as a whole.
"These three chapters comprise the bulk of the book."
How to Use Comprise
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo be composed of certain parts, or (less strictly) for those parts to make up the whole.
Common mistake
Traditional style guides say "the whole comprises the parts" (not "is comprised of the parts"), though "is comprised of" is now extremely common in everyday use.
Common pairings
comprise of (informal)
comprise the whole
Word Forms
comprised past tense, comprises singular
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The committee _____ twelve elected members.
Etymology
From Old French comprendre ("to include"), ultimately from Latin comprehendere — see "comprehend."