build
/bɪld
/verb (past and past participle built /bɪlt/) [with object]
1Construct (something) by putting parts or material together: the ironworks were built in 1736...
- A swarm of bees cooperates to construct a hive. Humans group together to build towns, cities, and nations.
- They were fun, but what I remember was that Papa got down on the floor with me and we built things together.
- A small fort was built out of the material of the stranded vessel and a crew left in charge of it to start a small settlement on the island.
Synonyms
construct, erect, put up, assemble, set up, raise
make, construct, fabricate, form, manufacture, create, fashion, model, mould, shape, forge
informal knock together
1.1Commission, finance, and oversee the building of (something): the county council plans to build a bypass...
- The $1 million facility was built and financed by the town and is being leased by Mediplan.
- Mrs Jones said that at the moment the PCT would not be able to finance the cost of building a new facility.
- It's hopeless for the Housing Commission to build estates of this kind.
1.2 (build something in/into) Incorporate something and make it a permanent part of a structure, system, or situation: engineers want to build in extra traction...
- The universe may not seem to make any more sense to you if your cosmogony is scientific rather than religious in nature, but in the end there is no escape from the fact that in the evolution of living systems the bias is built in.
- But in every other way, this particular pontificate has been very much a pontificate that has given great respect and credence to women, and has built their participation into the structures.
- But they have already paid the huge costs of building a complete infrastructure and have built the fees into their rate structures.
Synonyms
incorporate in/into, include in, embody in, absorb into, subsume into, assimilate into
1.3 Computing Compile (a program, database, index, etc.): you can build database applications without writing any code...
- We're building a huge online database of how the human race looks at life, how it works, thinks and responds.
- KSycoca reads all configuration files and builds a binary database which can be accessed much faster than the individual, text-based files.
- The software basically enables you to build a database of different movies.
2Make or become stronger or more intense: [with object]: we built up confidence in our abilities [no object]: the air of excited anticipation builds...
- Kenmare Golf Club has built up a strong and solid reputation over the years.
- The track built up the anticipation before bouncing around and around the Jazz Café's walls and into the ears.
- On the afternoon of 4 November 1973, intense thunderstorms built up west of Brisbane.
Synonyms
boost, strengthen, increase, improve, invigorate, augment, raise, intensify, enhance, escalate, multiply, swell
informal beef up
2.1Establish and develop (a business or situation) over a period of time: he’d built up the store from nothing...
- Mr Hussain built up the business when he took over in April last year after a previous arson attack caused £500,000 of damage.
- The prize-winning herd, established in 1964, was built up to 70 cows, plus followers.
- Scots settled across the Empire as it developed and built up their own communities such as Dunedin in New Zealand.
Synonyms
establish, found, set up, originate, institute, start, begin, inaugurate, initiate, put in place, constitute, secure
establish, set up, form, found, institute, start, begin, bring into being, create, inaugurate, organize;
develop, expand, enlarge
2.2 [no object] (build on) Use as a basis for further development: Britain should build on the talents of its workforce...
- We do have the basis to build on and are going into the match against Ireland with much more confidence.
- In different towns, united coalitions are already being built on the basis of this appeal.
- In the U.S. he can do research that builds on the latest developments and can produce work others will draw on.
Synonyms
expand on, enlarge on, develop, elaborate, flesh out, add flesh to, add detail to, embellish, enhance, amplify;
refine, improve, polish, perfect
noun
1 [mass noun] The proportions of a person’s or animal’s body: she was of medium height and slim build [in singular]: he had an ideal build for a sprinter...
- Katherine is described as 5ft 4ins tall and of slim build, with shoulder length brown hair and blue eyes.
- Judging by their build and scarred bodies, they had definitely seen a few fights in an earlier life.
- Shymala enjoys the facility and vivacity frequently seen in small dancers, tidy in build, ideally proportioned.
Synonyms
physique, frame, body, figure, form, structure, shape, make-up, formation, stature;
proportions
informal chassis, vital statistics
2The style or form of construction of something, especially a vehicle: the car’s high specification and impressive build quality...
- Reliability shouldn't be a problem either, the manufacturer having a good build quality these days.
- On the build quality front, though, they're all square and both are excellent.
- The public have realised that the build quality on the cars is high and that the prices give them great value for money.
3 Computing A compiled version of a program: a beta build of the program...
- For workstations, standard system builds or images with commonly used software should be established for groups of users.
- They have slightly different builds and firmware, and they work differently.
- Both provide native builds and clear, intuitive installers.
3.1 [mass noun] The process of compiling a program.The LinuxBIOS build process bears little resemblance to the Linux kernel build process....
- He said, though, Microsoft hoped to resolve these kinds of problems in the future by moving testing into the software build process.
- Yet there is rarely enough time set aside for that in the software build process.
Phrases
build one's hopes up
built on sand
Origin
Old English byldan, from bold, botl 'dwelling', of Germanic origin; related to bower1.