I. ˈbild verb
( built -lt ; or archaic builded -ldə̇d ; built or archaic builded ; building ; builds )
Etymology: Middle English bilden, from Old English byldan, denominative from the root of bold house; akin to Old Norse bōl abode, farm, Old English būan to dwell — more at bower
transitive verb
1.
a. : to construct for a dwelling
birds building their nests
they built a snug little cottage beside the stream
b. : to form by ordering and uniting materials by gradual means into a composite whole — used especially with reference to comparatively large or massive structures
they built churches and roads and power lines
he is making a model of the boat his father built
2. : to cause to be constructed : be responsible for the building of
some contractors build hundreds of houses every year
especially : to be the source of the money for building
sugar and cotton built the gracious plantation houses
3. : to fashion or develop according to a systematic plan, by a definite process, or on a particular base
building security for the future
an argument built on solid facts
as
a. : to give form : create — used passively and of human or other living bodies
a horse built for speed
b. : to give an inherent tendency : orient fundamentally — usually used passively
he was built to fight for what he believed in
I'm not built that way
c. : make , construct , form : as
(1) : to arrange the combustibles for and usually to light (a fire)
(2) : tailor
vest pockets are cut and built much in the same way — Clarence Poulin
(3) : to cook up (a dish)
Grandma will build one of her famous fruitcakes
(4) dialect : roll
build a cigarette
(5) : to produce (a work of art or literature)
building a new book
especially as an elaboration or exposition of a particular basis or theme
a recurring phrase … upon which this whole book seems to be built — Richard Sullivan
(6) : to make the blank parts of (a wax mold) higher by adding molten wax to ensure that the corresponding areas of the finished electrotype will be well below the face — often used with up
d. : enlarge , increase
build an inventory
especially : to improve the status of : enhance , exalt
build a candidate
— usually used with up
his scholarly interpretation built up the role
e. : to bring into being : develop through deliberate effort
beginning to build some understanding … of health practices among these people — Roger Angell
building a society without extremes of poverty and wealth — Maurice Cranston
f.
(1) casino : to put together (a numerical combination of cards) to be taken in by a card of that value
(2) in word games : to form (a word) by assembling letters
4.
a. : to employ so as to produce a structure
they built the stones into sturdy fences
b. : to use as material from which to form or formulate something
you could build these arguments into a whole new philosophy
5. : to improve the cleansing action of (as soap) by the addition of a builder
intransitive verb
1. : to perform the act, exercise the art, or practice the business of building
you can trust his work, he's been building for 30 years
2. : to be in the course of construction — usually used as a present participle
ships building in the docks
the road turned west and built slowly across Dakota — R.A.Billington
3. : to reach or progress towards a peak (as of intensity or interest)
the wind began to build and the sleet to blow about
a good boxing card builds from the first minute of the first bout
Synonyms:
build , construct , erect , frame , raise , rear : these all have in common the sense of to form a structure or something comparable to a structure. build stresses the fitting together of parts or materials to form the thing desired
build a cathedral
build a nest
build a road
build a city
construct , very close in meaning to build , usually lays stress upon the problem, or intricacy of the process, of fitting the parts together often implying more skill and intelligence than build
construct a railroad
construct a plan
construct a poem
erect , true to its etymology, carries the idea of putting up something that is upright
erect a flagpole
erect a building
frame usually emphasizes the forming or fashioning to suit a preconceived design, an intention, a purpose, or certain unavoidable facts, applying generally to intangibles
frame an answer
frame a financial report
frame a constitution
raise and rear , interchangeable with erect , usually apply to things that are upright or that have or imply height
raise a wall
raise a building of several stories
rear a tower
rear a complex philosophical and metaphysical construction
•
- build a fire under
- build around
- build into
- build on
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : form or mode of structure (as of a ship) : make
b. : the bodily conformation of a person or lower animal : physique , makeup
a man of heavy build
a horse of good build
c. : the structural arrangement of a landmass (as an island) or country
the build of the country … explains the sites of … the towns — J.M.Mogey
d. of a coating : capacity to form a relatively substantial continuous film
some of the resins have excellent build
2. : a combination (as of playing cards) formed by building
3. : a vertical joint in masonry
4. : a mounting state of intensity or of steady progress toward a climax
the author … neglected to give the continuous build that the more complex literary situation demands — Virgil Thomson
a good actor instinctively gives build to an important scene
Synonyms: see physique