constitute
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++con·sti·tute /ˈkɒnstɪtjuːt $ ˈkɑːnstɪtuːt/ ●●○ W3 AWL verb 1 [linking verb]BE to be considered to be something 被视为，被算作 Failing to complete the work constitutes a breach of the employment contract. 不能完成工作被视为违反雇用合同。 The rise in crime constitutes a threat to society. 犯罪率上升对社会构成了威胁。2 [linking verb]BE if several people or things constitute something, they are the parts that form it 组成，构成 SYN make up We must redefine what constitutes a family. 我们必须对家庭的构成重新定义。 RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say make up rather than constitute: 在日常英语中，人们一般说make up，而不说constituteHis letters to his wife make up the middle section of the book. 他写给妻子的书信构成了本书的中间部分。n GRAMMAR: Using the progressive• In meanings 1 and 2, constitute is not used in the progressive. You say: This constitutes a criminal offence. ✗Don’t say: This is constituting a criminal offence.• However, the participle form constituting is often used: Fish products are significant in Japan’s imports, constituting 30% of the total.3 [transitive] formalSTART something/MAKE something START to officially form a group or organization 成立，设立 SYN found The Federation was constituted in 1949. 该联盟成立于1949年。n Grammar Constitute is usually passive in this meaning.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
constitute• Nitrogen constitutes 78% of the earth's atmosphere.• We may need to redefine what constitutes a family.• The spread of international crime and corruption constitutes a major threat to the global economy.• Taken together, they constitute a quite dramatic increase in inequality.• The local authority decided that the present housing conditions constituted a risk for the mother and baby.• It is sometimes difficult to believe that the different groups living within our borders constitute a single society.• The focus is upon clues which together constitute a text ready for reading and interpretation.• No one doubts that they remain guesses; but what would constitute an intelligent as opposed to an unintelligent guess?• The very act of concluding a conflicting treaty would constitute breach and could be treated as such by its other parties.• Children constitute four out of every ten poor people in the United States.• The company's action constituted fraud.• The long ball constitutes more than half her shooting.• Because journalists don't think the congressman constitutes much of a threat, they don't write or broadcast stories about him.• And their gardening shows are designed for audiences who live somewhere other than the sizzling hell that constitutes summer in Tucson.• The thin layers that constitute the laser head are only 400 atoms thick.• Alaska is the largest of the fifty states that constitute the USA.• According to Marx, "money constitutes true power."Origin constitute (1400-1500) Latin past participle of constituere “to set up, constitute”, from com- ( → COM-) + statuere “to set up”con·sti·tute verb →n GRAMMAR1 →n GRAMMAR2
→REGISTER1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
→REGISTER1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
be be Corpus considered to to something
constitute
con‧sti‧tute W3 AC /ˈkɒnstətjuːt, ˈkɒnstɪtjuːt $ ˈkɑːnstətuːt/
verb
Failing to complete the work constitutes a breach of the employment contract.
The rise in crime constitutes a threat to society.
2. [linking verb, not in progressive] if several people or things constitute something, they are the parts that form it
SYN make up:
We must redefine what constitutes a family.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say make up rather than constitute:
▪His letters to his wife make up the middle section of the book.
3. [transitive usually in passive] formal to officially form a group or organization
SYN found:
The Federation was constituted in 1949.
con‧sti‧tute W3 AC /ˈkɒnstətjuːt, ˈkɒnstɪtjuːt $ ˈkɑːnstətuːt/
verb Date: 1400-1500
Language: Latin
Origin: past participle of constituere 'to set up, constitute', from com- ( ⇨ COM-) + statuere 'to set up'
1. [linking verb, not in progressive] to be considered to be something:Language: Latin
Origin: past participle of constituere 'to set up, constitute', from com- ( ⇨ COM-) + statuere 'to set up'
2. [linking verb, not in progressive] if several people or things constitute something, they are the parts that form it
SYN make up:
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say make up rather than constitute:
▪
3. [transitive usually in passive] formal to officially form a group or organization
SYN found:
consist of sb/sth to be formed from the people, things or activities mentioned 指由人、事物或活动组成、构成 ：◆ Their diet consists largely of vegetables. 他们的日常饮食以蔬菜为主。 comprise ( to be formed from the things or people mentionedrather
指由…组成、构成 ：◆ The collection comprises 327 paintings. 这组收藏有 327 幅画。 NOTE Comprise can also be used to refer to the parts or members of sth.* comprise 亦可指组成、构成 ：◆ Older people comprise a large proportion of those living in poverty. 在那些生活贫困的人中，老年人占很大的比例。 However, this is less frequent. 不过这种用法不常见。 make up sth ( to be the parts or people that form sthrather
指组成、构成 ：◆ Women make up 56% of the student numbers. 女生占学生人数的 56%。 constitute ( to be the parts or people that form sth指组成、构成 ：◆ People under the age of 40 constitute the majority of the labour force. * 40 岁以下的人占劳动力的大多数。 be composed of sb/sth ( to be formed from the things or people mentionedrather
指由…组成、构成 ：◆ Around 15% of our diet is composed of protein. 我们的饮食中大约 15% 是蛋白质。