-ldə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English bilder, from bilden + -er
1. : one that builds: as
a. : a worker (as a carpenter, shipwright, or mason) whose occupation is to build
b. : a person who supervises and usually has a financial interest in building operations and the arts and trades involved in their progress — compare contractor
c. : a person or organization that creates something (as a business or a railroad) ; especially : one that is a pioneer organizer or developer (as of a country)
the empire builders
2. : a substance (as a sodium polyphosphate or sodium carbonate) added to soaps or synthetic detergents or used with them to increase their cleansing action (as by softening hard water or controlling the hydrogen-ion concentration of the bath)
3. : a man in backgammon that can be moved without leaving a blot
4. or builder motion : the mechanism in a textile mill that distributes yarn or roving onto a bobbin, spool, or other holder to form a package
5. : a worker who builds up (as wax molds for electrotype plates) or assembles (as tires or parts of tires)