Definitions
1.verbTo be made up of; to consist of (especially a comprehensive list of parts)."The parts are comprised by the whole."
2.verbTo contain or embrace."Our committee comprises a president, secretary, treasurer and five other members."
3.verb(sometimes proscribed, usually in the passive) To compose, to constitute. See usage note below."A team is comprised of its members."
4.verbTo include, contain, or be made up of, defining the minimum elements, whether essential or inessential, to define an invention. ("Open-ended", doesn't limit to the items listed; cf. compose, which is "closed" and limits to the items listed.)