To work up Meaning, Definition & Usage

Definitions

1. . (a) To raise; to excite; to stir up; as, to work up the passions to rage.

   The sun, that rolls his chariot o'er their heads, Works up more fire and color in their cheeks. Addison.

   (b) To expend in any work, as materials; as, they have worked up all the stock. (c) (Naut.) To make over or into something else, as yarns drawn from old rigging, made into spun yarn, foxes, sennit, and the like; also, to keep constantly at work upon needless matters, as a crew in order to punish them. R. H. Dana, Jr.