BUILD (built)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: built   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does build mean? 

• BUILD (noun)
  The noun BUILD has 2 senses:

1. constitution of the human body

2. alternative names for the body of a human being

  Familiarity information: BUILD used as a noun is rare.

• BUILD (verb)
  The verb BUILD has 10 senses:

1. make by combining materials and parts

2. form or accumulate steadily

3. build or establish something abstract

4. improve the cleansing action of

5. order, supervise, or finance the construction of

6. give form to, according to a plan

7. be engaged in building

8. found or ground

9. bolster or strengthen

10. develop and grow

  Familiarity information: BUILD used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BUILD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Constitution of the human body

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

body-build; build; habitus; physique

Hypernyms ("build" is a kind of...):

bodily property (an attribute of the body)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "build"):

dumpiness; squattiness (a short and stout physique)

body type; somatotype (a category of physique)

lankiness (a tall and thin physique)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Alternative names for the body of a human being

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

anatomy; bod; build; chassis; figure; flesh; form; frame; human body; material body; physical body; physique; shape; soma

Context example:

the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

Hypernyms ("build" is a kind of...):

body; organic structure (the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "build"):

person (a human body (usually including the clothing))

juvenile body (the body of a young person)

adult body (the body of an adult human being)

male body (the body of a male human being)

female body (the body of a female human being)

Holonyms ("build" is a part of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

homo; human; human being; man (any living or extinct member of the family Hominidae characterized by superior intelligence, articulate speech, and erect carriage)

• BUILD (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they build    ... he / she / it builds   
Past simple: built   
Past participle: built   
-ing form: building   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make by combining materials and parts

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

build; construct; make

Context example:

Some eccentric constructed an electric brassiere warmer

Hypernyms (to "build" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Verb group:

build (be engaged in building)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "build"):

channelise; channelize (make a channel for; provide with a channel)

corduroy (build (a road) from logs laid side by side)

erect; put up; raise; rear; set up (construct, build, or erect)

cantilever (construct with girders and beams such that only one end is fixed)

groin (build with groins)

rebuild; reconstruct (build again)

frame; frame up (construct by fitting or uniting parts together)

wattle (build of or with wattle)

lock (build locks in order to facilitate the navigation of vessels)

dry-wall (construct with drywall)

revet (construct a revetment)

customise; customize (make according to requirements)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

The men build the bookshelves

Derivation:

builder (someone who contracts for and supervises construction (as of a building))

building (the act of constructing something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Form or accumulate steadily

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

build; build up; progress; work up

Context example:

Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border

Hypernyms (to "build" is one way to...):

develop (grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment)

Verb group:

build (develop and grow)

build; build up; ramp up; work up (bolster or strengthen)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Build or establish something abstract

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

build; establish

Context example:

build a reputation

Hypernyms (to "build" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Improve the cleansing action of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

build detergents

Hypernyms (to "build" is one way to...):

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

builder (a substance added to soaps or detergents to increase their cleansing action)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Order, supervise, or finance the construction of

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

The government is building new schools in this state

Hypernyms (to "build" is one way to...):

manage; oversee; superintend; supervise (watch and direct)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

building (the commercial activity involved in repairing old structures or constructing new ones)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Give form to, according to a plan

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Context example:

build a million-dollar business

Hypernyms (to "build" is one way to...):

develop (make something new, such as a product or a mental or artistic creation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Be engaged in building

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Context example:

These architects build in interesting and new styles

Hypernyms (to "build" is one way to...):

create (pursue a creative activity; be engaged in a creative activity)

Verb group:

build; construct; make (make by combining materials and parts)

Domain category:

architecture (the discipline dealing with the principles of design and construction and ornamentation of fine buildings)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

building (the commercial activity involved in repairing old structures or constructing new ones)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Found or ground

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

build a defense on nothing but the accused person's reputation

Hypernyms (to "build" is one way to...):

base; establish; found; ground (use as a basis for; found on)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 9

Meaning:

Bolster or strengthen

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

build; build up; ramp up; work up

Context example:

ramp up security in the airports

Hypernyms (to "build" is one way to...):

increase (make bigger or more)

Verb group:

build; build up; progress; work up (form or accumulate steadily)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 10

Meaning:

Develop and grow

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

Suspense was building right from the beginning of the opera

Hypernyms (to "build" is one way to...):

deepen; intensify (become more intense)

Verb group:

build; build up; progress; work up (form or accumulate steadily)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

 Context examples 

If you are an interior designer, you may be tasked with working on designing spaces in a beautiful old landmark building or even a castle straight out of Downton Abbey.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Having travelled about three miles, we came to a long kind of building, made of timber stuck in the ground, and wattled across; the roof was low and covered with straw.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

The Emerald City was built a great many years ago, for I was a young man when the balloon brought me here, and I am a very old man now.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

The straw therefore stretched itself from one bank to the other, and the coal, who was of an impetuous disposition, tripped quite boldly on to the newly-built bridge.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Then with his lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built firmly into the massive masonry.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He then led the way inside, and went over the whole building from basement to attic.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I build fire so that they will not freeze. Then I go back for sled. Also, I kill the dogs of the stranger-man so that we may have food and not die.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

It was the usual two-story corner building, with a saloon and grocery underneath.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Charles, when you build your house, I wish it may be half as delightful as Pemberley.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

It can be built up as an exact science by the reasoner.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)