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]
To form by combining materials or parts; construct.
To order, finance, or supervise the construction of: The administration built several new housing projects.
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.
To increase or strengthen by adding gradually to: money building interest in a savings account; build support for a political candidate.
To establish a basis for; found or ground: build an argument on fact.
v.
intr.
To make something by combining materials or parts.
To engage in the construction or design of buildings: "Each of the three architects built in a different style"(Dwight Macdonald).
To develop in magnitude or extent: clouds building on the horizon.
To progress toward a maximum, as of intensity: suspense building from the opening scene to the climax.
n.
The physical makeup of a person or thing; physique: an athletic build.
Computer Science Any of various versions of a software product as it is being developed for release to users.
To develop or increase in stages or by degrees: built up the business; building up my endurance for the marathon.
To accumulate or collect: sediment building up on the ocean floor.
To bolster: build up the product with a massive ad campaign; built up my hopes after the interview.
To fill up (an area) with buildings.
Phrasal Verb(s): build in/into
To construct or include as an integral part of: a wall with shelving that was built in; build stability into the economy. build on/upon
To use as a basis or foundation: We must build on our recent success. build up
To develop or increase in stages or by degrees: built up the business; building up my endurance for the marathon.
To accumulate or collect: sediment building up on the ocean floor.
To bolster: build up the product with a massive ad campaign; built up my hopes after the interview.
To fill up (an area) with buildings.
Idiom(s):
build on sand
To 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.]
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.
alternative names for the body of a human being; "Leonardo studied the human body"; "he has a strong physique"; "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"
verb
1.
make by combining materials and parts; "this little pig made his house out of straw"; "Some eccentric constructed an electric brassiere warmer" [syn: construct]
2.
form or accumulate steadily; "Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly"; "Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border" [syn: build up]
3.
build or establish something abstract; "build a reputation"
4.
improve the cleansing action of; "build detergents"
5.
order, supervise, or finance the construction of; "The government is building new schools in this state"
6.
give form to, according to a plan; "build a modern nation"; "build a million-dollar business"
7.
be engaged in building; "These architects build in interesting and new styles"
8.
found or ground; "build a defense on nothing but the accused person's reputation"
9.
bolster or strengthen; "We worked up courage"; "build up confidence"; "ramp up security in the airports" [syn: build up]
10.
develop and grow; "Suspense was building right from the beginning of the opera"
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\, 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.
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