/fol"oh up'/ , n.
1. the act of following up.
2. an action or thing that serves to increase the effectiveness of a previous one, as a second or subsequent letter, phone call, or visit.
3. Also called follow . Journalism.
a. a news story providing additional information on a story or article previously published.
b. Also called sidebar, supplementary story . a minor news story used to supplement a related story of major importance. Cf. feature story (def. 1), human-interest story, shirttail .
adj.
4. designed or serving to follow up, esp. to increase the effectiveness of a previous action: a follow-up interview; a follow-up offer.
5. of or pertaining to action that follows an initial treatment, course of study, etc.: follow-up care for mental patients; a follow-up survey.
[ 1920-25; n., adj. use of v. phrase follow up ]