1.
If you warm something up or if it warms up , it gets hotter.
He blew on his hands to warm them up...
All that she would have to do was warm up the pudding...
The weather had warmed up.
PHRASAL VERB : V n P , V P n (not pron) , V P
2.
If you warm up for an event such as a race, you prepare yourself for it by doing exercises or by practising just before it starts.
In an hour the drivers will be warming up for the main event...
PHRASAL VERB : V P
see also warm-up
3.
When a machine or engine warms up or someone warms it up , it becomes ready for use a little while after being switched on or started.
He waited for his car to warm up...
We spent a frustrating five minutes while the pilot warmed up the engines.
PHRASAL VERB : V P , V P n (not pron) , also V n P
4.
If a comedian or speaker warms up an audience or the audience warms up , the audience is prepared for the main show or speaker by being told jokes, so that they are in a good mood.
They would always come out and warm up the audience...
The crowd began to warm up.
PHRASAL VERB : V P n (not pron) , V P