Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - comprise

(comprises, comprising, comprised) 1. If you say that something comprises or is comprised of a number of things or people, you mean it has them as its parts or members. (FORMAL) The special cabinet committee comprises Mr Brown, Mr Mandelson, and Mr Straw... The task force is comprised of congressional leaders, cabinet heads and administration officials... A crowd comprised of the wives and children of scientists staged a demonstration. VERB: V n, be V-ed of n, V-ed 2. The things or people that comprise something are the parts or members that form it. (FORMAL) Women comprise 44% of hospital medical staff. = form, make up VERB: V n