build

[ bild ]

verb (used with object)

, built or (Archaic) build·ed; build·ing.

1. to construct (especially something complex) by assembling and joining parts or materials:

   to build a house.

2. to establish, increase, or strengthen (often followed by up ):

   to build a business;

   to build up one's hopes.

3. to mold, form, or create:

   to build students into skilled professionals.

4. to base; found:

   a relationship built on trust.

5. Games.
   1. to make (words) from letters.
   2. to assemble (cards) according to number, suit, etc., as in melding.
   3. to create (a character in a role-playing game) by choosing a job class and/or a set of attributes, skills, weapons, armor, etc.; spec:

      If you want to build a Warlock, choosing Half-Elf for your race will give you more spells and magic resistance.

verb (used without object)

, built or (Archaic) build·ed; build·ing.

1. to engage in the art, practice, or business of building.
2. to form or construct a plan, system of thought, etc. (usually followed by on or upon ):

   He built on the philosophies of the past.

3. to increase or develop toward a maximum, as of intensity, tempo, or magnitude (often followed by up ):

   The drama builds steadily toward a climax.

noun

1. the physical structure, especially of a person; physique; figure:

   He had a strong build.

2. the manner or form of construction:

   The house was of modern build.

3. Computers.
   1. a version of a program after compilation, typically an update to an existing version made before the program is released.
   2. the process of producing a software build.
   3. a new version or update of data in a database or on a website:

      frequent, incremental builds of data.

4. (in a video game or tabletop role-playing game) a set of attributes, skills, weapons, armor, and other items chosen by the player that affect the character’s speed, strength, intelligence, etc., which may make the character more effective in some roles and less effective in others.
5. Masonry.
   1. a vertical joint.
   2. the vertical dimension of a stone laid on its bed.

verb phrase

1. to build or incorporate as part of something else: an allowance for travel expenses built into the budget.

   to build in bookcases between the windows;

   an allowance for travel expenses built into the budget.

2. to expand, construct, or develop: The team used to manually build out its marketing email list, but now it's automatic.

   They decided to build out the road network to connect the two towns.

   The team used to manually build out its marketing email list, but now it's automatic.

3. 1. to develop or increase:

      to build up a bank account.

   2. to strengthen.
   3. to prepare in stages.
   4. to fill in with houses; develop into an urban area.
   5. to praise or flatter.

build

/ bɪld /

verb

1. to make, construct, or form by joining parts or materials

   to build a house

2. intr to be a builder by profession
3. tr to order the building of

   the government builds most of our hospitals

4. foll byon or upon to base; found

   his theory was not built on facts

5. tr to establish and develop

   it took ten years to build a business

6. tr to make in a particular way or for a particular purpose

   the car was not built for speed

7. introften foll byup to increase in intensity

   the wind was building

8. cards
   1. to add cards to each other to form (a sequence or set)
   2. intr to add to the layout of cards on the table from one's hand

noun

1. physical form, figure, or proportions

   a man with an athletic build

Other Words From

• build·a·ble adjective
• mis·build verb misbuilt misbuilding
• out·build verb (used with object) outbuilt outbuilding
• pre·build verb (used with object) prebuilt prebuilding
• su·per·build verb superbuilt superbuilding
• un·build·a·ble adjective
• un·der·build verb underbuilt underbuilding

Word History and Origins

Origin of build¹

First recorded before 1150; from Middle English bilden, Old English byldan, derivative of bold, variant of botl “dwelling, house”

Word History and Origins

Origin of build¹

Old English byldan ; related to bylda farmer, bold building, Old Norse bōl farm, dwelling; see bower ¹

Idioms and Phrases

• light (build) a fire under
• built

Example Sentences

At a time when the land that racetracks sit on has become so valuable that developers are paying record sums to tear them down and build industrial parks in their place, buying a race that is run on city streets was a smart investment on a number of levels.

From Los Angeles Times

“In this era, you have to build a team one year at a time and obviously you’re hoping that you’re not going to have to totally start over every year,” Cronin said.

From Los Angeles Times

Two secondary schools could take on 600 extra pupils between them after plans to build a new school became too expensive.

From BBC

Each one must pay administration, governance and management costs, which can build up – last year, they increased by £28m.

From BBC

Fed up with Los Angeles traffic, Elon Musk launched The Boring Co. with two tweets in 2016, promising “to build a tunnel boring machine and just start digging.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assemble
• erect
• evolve
• form
• make
• manufacture
• produce
• raise
• reconstruct
• set up