comprise
The committee comprises five members.
The committee consists of five members.
To be made up of; to consist of.
The book comprises three main sections.
The book is made up of three main sections.
The team comprises players from different countries.
The team consists of players from different countries.
Comprise is often confused with 'compose' or 'constitute'. 'Comprise' emphasizes the whole made up of parts, while 'compose' emphasizes the parts making up the whole. E.g., 'The parts compose the whole' vs. 'The whole comprises the parts'.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Avoid 'comprise of'
The phrase 'comprise of' is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Use 'comprise' alone or 'consist of' instead. E.g., 'The team comprises five players' (correct) vs. 'The team is comprised of five players' (informal but common).
Gold Rule
Comprise vs. Compose
Use 'comprise' to describe the whole made up of parts (e.g., 'The book comprises three chapters'). Use 'compose' to describe the parts making up the whole (e.g., 'Three chapters compose the book').
Word Origin
From Old French compris 'understood,' past participle of comprendre 'to comprehend,' from Latin comprehendere 'to grasp together,' from com- 'together' + prehendere 'to grasp.'
Usage Notes
Avoid using 'comprise of' — it is considered incorrect in standard English. Use 'comprise' alone or 'consist of' instead. E.g., 'The group comprises five people' (correct) vs. 'The group is comprised of five people' (acceptable but less formal).