build Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun constitution of the human body
    body-build; physique; habitus.
  2. noun alternative names for the body of a human being
    form; figure; flesh; soma; frame; physique; material body; anatomy; shape; chassis; human body; physical body; bod.
    • Leonardo studied the human body
    • he has a strong physique
    • the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
  3. verb make by combining materials and parts
    make; construct.
    • this little pig made his house out of straw
    • Some eccentric constructed an electric brassiere warmer
  4. verb form or accumulate steadily
    build up; progress; work up.
    • Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly
    • Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border
  5. verb build or establish something abstract
    establish.
    • build a reputation
  6. verb improve the cleansing action of
    • build detergents
  7. verb order, supervise, or finance the construction of
    • The government is building new schools in this state
  8. verb give form to, according to a plan
    • build a modern nation
    • build a million-dollar business
  9. verb be engaged in building
    • These architects build in interesting and new styles
  10. verb found or ground
    • build a defense on nothing but the accused person's reputation
  11. verb bolster or strengthen
    build up; work up; ramp up.
    • We worked up courage
    • build up confidence
    • ramp up security in the airports
  12. verb develop and grow
    • Suspense was building right from the beginning of the opera

WordNet

Build transitive verb
Etymology
OE. bulden, bilden, AS. byldan to build, fr. bold house; cf. Icel. bol farm, abode, Dan. bol small farm, OSw. bol, böle, house, dwelling, fr. root of Icel. ba to dwell; akin to E. be, bower, boor.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Built present participle & verbal noun Building The regular imperfect & past participle Builded is antiquated
Definitions
  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 intransitive verb
Definitions
  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 noun
Definitions
  1. Form or mode of construction; general figure; make; as, the build of a ship.

Webster 1913