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build - 8 dictionary results

build

  [bild] verb, built or (Archaic) build⋅ed; build⋅ing; noun
Use build in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to construct (esp. something complex) by assembling and joining parts or materials: to build a house.
2. to establish, increase, or strengthen (often fol. by up): to build a business; to build up one's hopes.
3. to mold, form, or create: to build boys into men.
4. to base; found: a relationship built on trust.
5. Games.
a. to make (words) from letters.
b. to assemble (cards) according to number, suit, etc., as in melding.
–verb (used without object)
6. to engage in the art, practice, or business of building.
7. to form or construct a plan, system of thought, etc. (usually fol. by on or upon): He built on the philosophies of the past.
8. to increase or develop toward a maximum, as of intensity, tempo, or magnitude (often fol. by up): The drama builds steadily toward a climax.
–noun
9. the physical structure, esp. of a person; physique; figure: He had a strong build.
10. the manner or form of construction: The house was of modern build.
11. Masonry.
a. a vertical joint.
b. the vertical dimension of a stone laid on its bed.
—Verb phrases
12. build in or into, to build or incorporate as part of something else: to build in bookcases between the windows; an allowance for travel expenses built into the budget.
13. build up,
a. to develop or increase: to build up a bank account.
b. to strengthen.
c. to prepare in stages.
d. to fill in with houses; develop into an urban area.
e. to praise or flatter.
Origin:
bef. 1150; ME bilden, OE byldan, deriv. of bold, var. of botl dwelling, house

Related forms:
build⋅a⋅ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To build
build   (bĭld)   
v.   built (bĭlt), build·ing, builds

v.   tr.
  1. To form by combining materials or parts; construct.
  2. To order, finance, or supervise the construction of: The administration built several new housing projects.
  3. To develop or give form to according to a plan or process; create: build a nation; built a successful business out of their corner grocery store.
  4. To increase or strengthen by adding gradually to: money building interest in a savings account; build support for a political candidate.
  5. To establish a basis for; found or ground: build an argument on fact.
v.   intr.
  1. To make something by combining materials or parts.
  2. To engage in the construction or design of buildings: "Each of the three architects built in a different style" (Dwight Macdonald).
  3. To develop in magnitude or extent: clouds building on the horizon.
  4. To progress toward a maximum, as of intensity: suspense building from the opening scene to the climax.
n.  
  1. The physical makeup of a person or thing; physique: an athletic build.
  2. Computer Science Any of various versions of a software product as it is being developed for release to users.
  3. To develop or increase in stages or by degrees: built up the business; building up my endurance for the marathon.
  4. To accumulate or collect: sediment building up on the ocean floor.
  5. To bolster: build up the product with a massive ad campaign; built up my hopes after the interview.
  6. To fill up (an area) with buildings.
Phrasal Verb(s):
build in/intoTo construct or include as an integral part of: a wall with shelving that was built in; build stability into the economy.
build on/uponTo use as a basis or foundation: We must build on our recent success.
build up
  1. To develop or increase in stages or by degrees: built up the business; building up my endurance for the marathon.
  2. To accumulate or collect: sediment building up on the ocean floor.
  3. To bolster: build up the product with a massive ad campaign; built up my hopes after the interview.
  4. To fill up (an area) with buildings.

Idiom(s):
build on sandTo provide with an unstable foundation: Having bought only high-risk stocks, my portfolio was built on sand.

[Middle English bilden, from Old English byldan; see bheuə- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Build

Build\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Built; p. pr. & vb. n. Building. The regular imp. & p. p. Builded is antiquated.] [OE. bulden, bilden, AS. byldan to build, fr. bold house; cf. Icel. b[=o]l farm, abode, Dan. bol small farm, OSw. bol, b["o]le, house, dwelling, fr. root of Icel. b?a to dwell; akin to E. be, bower, boor. [root]97.]

1. To erect or construct, as an edifice or fabric of any kind; to form by uniting materials into a regular structure; to fabricate; to make; to raise.

Nor aught availed him now To have built in heaven high towers. --Milton.

2. To raise or place on a foundation; to form, establish, or produce by using appropriate means.

Who builds his hopes in air of your good looks. --Shak.

3. To increase and strengthen; to increase the power and stability of; to settle, or establish, and preserve; -- frequently with up; as, to build up one's constitution.

I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up. --Acts xx. 32.

Syn: To erect; construct; raise; found; frame.

Build

Build\, v. i. 1. To exercise the art, or practice the business, of building.

2. To rest or depend, as on a foundation; to ground one's self or one's hopes or opinions upon something deemed reliable; to rely; as, to build on the opinions or advice of others.

Build

Build\, n. Form or mode of construction; general figure; make; as, the build of a ship.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : build
Spanish: construir,
German: bauen,
Japanese: 建てる
More Translations »

build 
O.E. byldan "construct a house," verb form of bold "house," from P.Gmc. *buthlam, from PIE base *bhu- "dwell." Rare in O.E., in M.E. it won out over more common O.E. timbran. Modern spelling is unexplained. Building "a structure" is from 1297. Built-in is from 1898; well-built in reference to a woman is from 1871.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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build

In addition to the idioms beginning with build, also see light (build) a fire under. Also see under built.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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build

human body shape and physique type. The term somatotype is used in the system of classification of human physical types developed by U.S. psychologist W.H. Sheldon. In Sheldon's system, human beings can be classified as to body build in terms of three extreme body types: endomorphic, or round, fat type; mesomorphic, or muscular type; and ectomorphic, or slim, linear type. A somatotype number of three digits is determined for an individual classified by the system, with the first digit referring to endomorphy, the second to mesomorphy, and the third to ectomorphy; each digit is on a scale of one to seven. Hence the extreme endomorph has the somatotype 711, the extreme mesomorph 171, and the extreme ectomorph 117. The classification numbers are negatively correlated, so that a high number in one class precludes high numbers in the others; in practice, extreme types (711, 171, 117) are rare or nonexistent, and the person of normal build has a somatotype approaching 444, evenly balanced between extremes. See also ectomorph; endomorph; mesomorph.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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