If you build something into a wall or object, you make it in such a way that it is in the wall or object, or is partof it.
If the TV was built into the ceiling, you could lie there while watching your favouriteprogramme. [beVERB-ed + into]
3. verb
If people build an organization, a society, or a relationship, they gradually form it.
He and a partner set up on their own and built a successful fashion company. [VERB noun]
Their purpose is to build a fair society and a strong economy. [VERB noun]
I wanted to build a relationship with my team. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: establish, start, begin, found More Synonyms of build
buildinguncountable noun
...the building of the great civilisations of the ancient world. [+ of]
Synonyms: construction, raising, architecture, erection More Synonyms of build
4. verb
If you build an organization, system, or product on something, you base it on it.
We will then have a firmer foundation of fact on which to build theories. [VERB noun preposition]
The town's nineteenth-century prosperity was built on steel. [VERB noun preposition]
5. verb
If you build something into a policy, system, or product, you make it part of it.
We have to build computers into the school curriculum. [VERB noun into noun]
How much delay should we build into the plan? [VERB noun into noun]
6. verb
To build someone's confidence or trust means to increase it gradually. If someone's confidence or trust builds, it increases gradually.
The encouragement that young boys receive builds a greater self-confidence. [VERB noun]
Diplomats hope the meetings will build mutual trust. [VERB noun]
Usually when we're six months or so into a recovery, confidence begins to build. [VERB]
Synonyms: develop, increase, improve, extend More Synonyms of build
Build up means the same as build.
The delegations had begun to build up some trust in one another. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
We will start to see the confidence in the housing market building up again. [VERBPARTICLE]
[Also + VPto]
7. verb
If you buildon the success of something, you take advantage of this success in order to make further progress.
Build on the qualities you are satisfied with and work to change those you are unhappywith. [Von/upon n]
The new regime has no successful economic reforms on which to build. [VERB + on/upon]
8. verb
If pressure, speed, sound, or excitement builds, it gradually becomes greater.
Pressure built yesterday for postponement of the ceremony. [VERB]
The last chords of the suite build to a crescendo. [V + to/into]
Build up means the same as build.
We can build up the speed gradually and safely. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
Economists warn that enormous pressures could build up, forcing people to emigratewestwards. [VERBPARTICLE]
[Also + VPto]
9. variable noun
Someone's build is the shape that their bones and muscles give to their body.
He's described as around thirty years old, six feet tall and of medium build.
The authority of his voice is undermined by the smallness of his build.
Synonyms: physique, form, body, figure More Synonyms of build
10. See also building, built
Phrasal verbs:
See build up
See build up to
build in British English
(bɪld)
verbWord forms: builds, building or built
1.
to make, construct, or form by joining parts or materials
to build a house
2. (intransitive)
to be a builder by profession
3. (transitive)
to order the building of
the government builds most of our hospitals
4. (foll byon or upon)
to base; found
his theory was not built on facts
5. (transitive)
to establish and develop
it took ten years to build a business
6. (transitive)
to make in a particular way or for a particular purpose
the car was not built for speed
7. (intransitive; often foll byup)
to increase in intensity
the wind was building
8. cards
a.
to add cards to each other to form (a sequence or set)
b. (intransitive)
to add to the layout of cards on the table from one's hand
noun
9.
physical form, figure, or proportions
a man with an athletic build
Word origin
Old English byldan; related to bylda farmer, bold building, Old Norse bōl farm, dwelling; see bower1
build in American English
(bɪld)
verb transitiveWord forms: built or Archaicˈbuilded, ˈbuilding
1.
a.
to make by putting together materials, parts, etc.; construct; erect
b.
to order, plan, or direct the construction of
2.
to make a basis for; establish
to build a theory on facts
3.
to cause to be or grow; create or develop
often with up
to build good will, to build up a business
verb intransitive
4.
a.
to put up a building
b.
to have a house, etc. built
5.
to be in the business of building houses, etc.
6.
to increase in amount, force, etc.; grow or intensify
often with up
7.
to depend or be based (on)
this theory builds on others
noun
8.
the way a thing is built or shaped; form or figure
a stocky build
Idioms:
build up
Word origin
ME bilden < OE byldan, to build < base of bold, a house, akin to ON bua: see bondage
More idioms containing
build
build up a head of steam
build bridges
Examples of 'build' in a sentence
build
Was the sound system built to fit the car or the car built around the sound system?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The high is building again as it has drifted to the east of us.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There will also be plans to get far more houses built.
The Sun (2016)
He likes that most modern products are not built to last.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They also built a bonfire of official records in the exercise yard.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are built in the shape of swastikas and the symbols are carved on the rock.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The reason the top guys can go on so long is because they built a real base.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It requires two of you to use five blocks to build a bridge supported only at each end.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They soon moved under the eaves of barns, and now build on any building with suitable eaves.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It has been used to build bridges and promote mutual dialogue.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Buying the plot of land and building our house.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The first defendant was engaged to design and built the waste disposal plant.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We hope this performance gives us something to build on heading into next season.
The Sun (2015)
You need to own up to your fears and talk this all through together to build trust.
The Sun (2012)
This is the classic heavy metal muscle car built for speed and pure performance.
The Sun (2010)
What should he be eating to build himself up again?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You are smart enough to choose love that builds your confidence.
The Sun (2008)
The agent can also be left out of a passive sentence to build up suspense.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We must also build more storage space for imported gas.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We are massively excited about the way we are going and hope we can build on that.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The catsuit was built around my body.
The Sun (2010)
It says that it uses the income to reinvest in the website and build new products.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She was medium build and plain looking.
The Sun (2010)
Now the pits were dying and they were building two schemes around it.
Smout, T.C. & Wood, Sydney Scottish Voices 1745-1960 (1990)
We need to build a manufacturing base and invest in green technology.
The Sun (2013)
He knows he is the wrong shape and build but he is also different from the rest mentally.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Our house is small and my wife has secured another mortgage to build into the loft so we can have a bedroom each.
The Sun (2015)
If security were an issue, they could be built underground and manned by guards.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
build
British English: build /bɪld/ VERB
If you build a structure, you make it by joining things together.
Developers are proposing to build a hotel on the site.
American English: build
Arabic: يَبْني
Brazilian Portuguese: construir
Chinese: 建造
Croatian: graditi
Czech: postavit
Danish: bygge
Dutch: bouwen
European Spanish: construir
Finnish: rakentaa
French: construire
German: bauen
Greek: χτίζω
Italian: costruire
Japanese: 建てる
Korean: ...을 짓다 집
Norwegian: bygge
Polish: zbudować
European Portuguese: construir
Romanian: a construi
Russian: строить
Latin American Spanish: construir
Swedish: bygga
Thai: สร้าง
Turkish: inşa etmek
Ukrainian: будувати
Vietnamese: xây dựng
All related terms of 'build'
build in
to incorporate or construct as an integral part
build up
If you build up something or if it builds up , it gradually becomes bigger , for example because more is added to it.
new build
the activity of building new houses and other buildings
build-down
a gradual decrease in nuclear weapons , armed forces, etc., esp. by an agreement in which a smaller number of newer weapons would replace older ones
build into
to make (something) a definite part of (a contract , agreement, etc)
jerry-build
to build (houses, flats , etc) badly using cheap materials
self-build
the practice of building one's own home
build bridges
to do something to help opposing groups of people to understand each other or behave well towards each other
build housing
You refer to the buildings in which people live as housing when you are talking about their standard, price, or availability.
custom-build
to make according to the specifications of an individual buyer
build a bomb
A bomb is a device which explodes and damages or destroys a large area.
build up to
If you build up to something you want to do or say , you try to prepare people for it by starting to do it or introducing the subject gradually.
build a career
A career is the job or profession that someone does for a long period of their life.
build a future
The future is the period of time that will come after the present, or the things that will happen then.
build a hotel
A hotel is a building where people stay , for example on holiday , paying for their rooms and meals .
build a prison
A prison is a building where criminals are kept as punishment or where people accused of a crime are kept before their trial .
build confidence
If you have confidence , you feel sure about your abilities , qualities, or ideas .
buildup
praise or favorable publicity , esp. when systematic and intended to make something popular, well-known , etc.
build a foundation
The foundation of something such as a belief or way of life is the things on which it is based.
build a hospital
A hospital is a place where people who are ill are looked after by nurses and doctors .
build a shelter
A shelter is a small building or covered place which is made to protect people from bad weather or danger .
build a relationship
The relationship between two people or groups is the way in which they feel and behave towards each other.
get/build your hopes up
If you tell someone not to get their hopes up , or not to build their hopes up , you are warning them that they should not become too confident of progress or success .
build up a head of steam
to gradually become more and more angry , anxious , or emotional about something until you can no longer hide your feelings
to build up a head of steam
to develop power
Chinese translation of 'build'
build
(bɪld)
Word forms:ptppbuilt
n(c/u)
[of person]体(體)格 (tǐgé) (种(種), zhǒng)
⇒ He is of medium build.他中等体格。 (Tā zhōngděng tǐgé.)
vt
[house, machine]建造 (jiànzào)
(fig)[organization, relationship]建立 (jiànlì)
⇒ I wanted to build a relationship with my team.我想同我的团队建立起关系。 (Wǒ xiǎng tóng wǒ de tuánduì jiànlì qǐ guānxì.)
vi
建设(設) (jiànshè)
All related terms of 'build'
build on
( fig : success etc ) 建基于(於) jiànjī yú ⇒ We must build on the success of these industries. → 我们必须依靠这些企业的成功。 Wǒmen bìxū yīkào zhèxiē qǐyè de chénggōng.
build up
( business, collection ) 发(發)展起来(來) fāzhǎn qǐlái
build into
( wall, ceiling ) 固定在 gùdìng zài ⇒ The TV was built into the ceiling. → 电视被固定在天花板上。 Diànshì bèi gùdìng zài tiānhuābǎn shang.