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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

build

Audio Help [bild] Pronunciation Key verb, built or (Archaic

) build·ed; build·ing; noun

–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.

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 (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
build up

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

build·up

Audio Help [bild-uhp] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	a building up, as of military forces; increase in amount or number.

2.	a process of growth; strengthening; development: the buildup of heavy industry.

3.	an accumulation, as of a particular type of material: a buildup of salt deposits.

4.	an increase, as in potential, intensity, or pressure: A buildup of suspense began halfway through the movie.

5.	a progressive or sequential development: the buildup of helium atoms from hydrogen.

6.	praise or publicity designed to enhance a reputation or popularize someone or something: The studio spent $100,000 on the new star's buildup.

7.	a process of preparation designed to make possible the achievement of an ultimate objective: a lengthy buildup to a sales pitch.

8.	encouragement; a psychological lift: Every time I need a buildup, I look at her picture.

Also, build-up.

[Origin: 1925–30, Americanism; n. use of v. phrase build up

]

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

build Audio Help   (bĭld) Pronunciation Key
v.   built (bĭlt), build·ing, builds

v.   tr.

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.

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.]

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

build up
verb
1.	enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages; "build up your savings"
2.	form or accumulate steadily; "Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly"; "Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border"
3.	prepare oneself for a military confrontation; "The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East"; "troops are building up on the Iraqi border" [syn: arm] [ant: demilitarise]
4.	bolster or strengthen; "We worked up courage"; "build up confidence"; "ramp up security in the airports"
5.	change the use of and make available or usable; "develop land"; "The country developed its natural resources"; "The remote areas of the country were gradually built up"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
build up1

to increase (the size or extent of)
Example: The traffic begins to build up around five o'clock.

Arabic:	يَزْدادُ
Chinese (Simplified):	增多
Chinese (Traditional):	增多
Czech:	vzrůstat
Danish:	hobe (sig op)
Dutch:	(doen) toenemen
Estonian:	tihenema, kogunema
Finnish:	kasautua
French:	(s')accroître
German:	sich verstärken
Greek:	αυξάνω, κλιμακώνομαι
Hungarian:	növekszik
Indonesian:	meningkat
Italian:	aumentare

Japanese:	増加する
Latvian:	palielināt; palielināties; pieaugt
Lithuanian:	didėti, augti
Norwegian:	bygge, samle, hope seg opp
Polish:	wzmagać się
Portuguese (Brazil):	aumentar
Portuguese (Portugal):	aumentar
Romanian:	a creşte
Russian:	нарастать
Slovak:	vzrastať
Slovenian:	naraščati
Spanish:	aumentar
Swedish:	öka, hopa sig, stegras
Turkish:	artmak, birikmek

build up2

to strengthen gradually (a business, one's health, reputation etc)
Example: His father built up that grocery business from nothing.

Arabic:	يَبْني، يُطَوِّرُ تَدْريجِيّا
Chinese (Simplified):	逐步建立
Chinese (Traditional):	逐步建立
Czech:	vybudovat
Danish:	opbygge
Dutch:	opbouwen
Estonian:	üles ehitama
Finnish:	luoda
French:	créer, monter
German:	aufbauen
Greek:	αναπτύσσω σταδιακά, δυναμώνω
Hungarian:	felépít
Indonesian:	berangsur meningkatkan
Italian:	costruire; rafforzare; farsi

Japanese:	増強する
Latvian:	radīt; izveidot; nostiprināt (veselību u.tml.)
Lithuanian:	(su)kurti, (iš)plėsti, (pa)didinti
Norwegian:	bygge opp, opparbeide, utvikle
Polish:	tworzyć, rozwijać, budować
Portuguese (Brazil):	montar, constituir
Portuguese (Portugal):	construir
Romanian:	a face, *a realiza (treptat)
Russian:	(постепенно) создавать
Slovak:	vybudovať
Slovenian:	zgraditi, okrepiti, ustvariti
Spanish:	crear
Swedish:	bygga upp, skapa
Turkish:	geliştirmek