Which term refers to the make-up of something?

• A. Composition
• B. Structure
• C. Constitution
• D. Makeup

Answer: (A)

The key idea is understanding what counts as the make-up of something. The word that describes what something is made of, and in what amounts, is composition. It covers the different substances present and how much of each is there, which is exactly what we mean by its make-up. For example, the composition of air is mostly nitrogen and oxygen in specific proportions. This is different from structure, which is about how those parts are arranged or connected, not what they are in the first place. Constitution can be used in certain contexts but isn’t the standard scientific term for what something is made of. Makeup is a close synonym in everyday language, but when naming the concept in scientific or formal contexts, composition is the precise term. So, the term that best fits “the make-up of something” is composition.