[make] vb made ; mak.ing [ME, fr. OE macian; akin to OHG mahhon to prepare, make, Gk magenai to be kneaded, OCS mazati to anoint, smear] vt (bef. 12c) 1 a obs: behave, act b: to seem to begin (an action) "made to go"
2. a: to cause to happen to or be experienced by someone "made trouble for us" b: to cause to exist, occur, or appear: create "~ a disturbance" c: to favor the growth or occurrence of "haste ~s waste" d: to fit, intend, or destine by or as if by creating "was made to be an actor" 3 a: to bring into being by forming, shaping, or altering material: fashion "~ a dress" b: compose, write "~ verses" c: to lay out and construct "~ a road"
4: to frame or formulate in the mind "~ plans"
5: to put together from components: constitute "houses made of stone"
6. a: to compute or estimate to be b: to form and hold in the mind "~ no doubt of it"
7. a: to assemble and set alight the materials for (a fire) b: to set in order "~ beds" c: prepare, fix "~ dinner" d: to shuffle (a deck of cards) in preparation for dealing 8: to prepare (hay) by cutting, drying, and storing
9. a: to cause to be or become "made them happy" b: appoint "made him bishop"
10. a: enact, establish "~ laws" b: to execute in an appropriate manner "~ a will" c: set, name "~ a price" 11 a chiefly dial: shut "the doors are made against you --Shak." b: to cause (an electric circuit) to be completed 12 a: to conclude as to the nature or meaning of something "what do you ~ of this development?" b: to regard as being "not the fool some ~ him" 13 a: to carry out (an action indicated or implied by the object) "~ war" "~ a speech" b: to perform with a bodily movement "~ a sweeping gesture" c: to achieve by traversing "~ a detour" "making the rounds" 14 a: to produce as a result of action, effort, or behavior with respect to something "~ a mess of the job" "tried to ~ a thorough job of it" b archaic: to turn into another language by translation 15: to cause to act in a certain way: compel "~ her give it back" 16: to cause or assure the success or prosperity of "can either ~ you or break you" 17 a: to amount to in significance "~s a great difference" b: to form the essential being of "clothes ~ the m : to distort one's features: grimace -- make a mountain out of a molehill : to treat a trifling matter as of great importance -- make away with 1: to carry off: steal
2: kill -- make believe : pretend, feign -- make bold : venture, dare -- make book : to accept bets at calculated odds on all the entrants in a race or contest -- make common cause : to unite to achieve a shared goal -- make do : to get along or manage with the means at hand -- make ends meet : to make one's means adequate to one's needs -- make eyes : ogle -- make fun of : to make an object of amusement or laughter: ridicule, mock -- make good 1: to make valid or complete: as a: to make up for (a deficiency) b: indemnify "make good the loss" c: to carry out successfully "made good his promise" "made good their escape" d: prove "made good a charge"
2: to prove to be capable; also: succeed -- make hay : to make use of offered opportunity esp. in gaining an early advantage -- make head 1: to make progress esp. against resistance
2: to rise in armed revolt -- make it 1: to be successful "trying to make it in the big time as a fashion photographer --Joe Kane" "the creme brulee didn't quite make it"
2: to have sexual intercourse -- make light of : to treat as of little account -- make love 1: woo, court
2. a: neck, pet b: to engage in sexual intercourse -- make much of 1: to treat as of importance
2: to treat with obvious affection or special consideration -- make no bones : to be straightforward, unhesitating, or sure "makes no bones about the seriousness of the matter" -- make one's mark : to achieve success or fame -- make public : disclose -- make sail 1: to raise or spread sail
2: to set out on a voyage -- make shift : to manage with difficulty -- make sport of : ridicule, mock -- make the grade : to measure up to some standard: be successful -- make the most of : to show or use to the best advantage -- make the scene : to be present at or participate in a usu. specified activity or event -- make time 1: to travel fast
2: to gain time
3: to make progress toward winning favor "trying to make time with the waitress" -- make tracks 1: to proceed at a walk or run
2: to go in a hurry: run away, flee -- make use of : to put to use: employ -- make water 1 of a boat: leak
2: urinate -- make waves : to create a stir or disturbance -- make way 1: to give room for passing, entering, or occupying
2: to make progress -- make with slang: produce, perform--usu. used with the
[2]make n (14c) 1 a: the manner or style in which a thing is constructed b: brand 4a
2: the physical, mental, or moral constitution of a person "men of his ~ are rare" 3 a: the action of producing or manufacturing b: the actual yield or amount produced over a specified period: output
4: the act of shuffling cards; also: turn to shuffle -- on the make 1: in the process of forming, growing, or improving
2: in quest of a higher social or financial status
3: in search of sexual adventure