BUILDUP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does buildup mean? 

• BUILDUP (noun)
  The noun BUILDUP has 3 senses:

1. the act of building up an accumulation

2. the result of the process of accumulation

3. highly favorable publicity and praise

  Familiarity information: BUILDUP used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BUILDUP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of building up an accumulation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

a military buildup in preparation for the invasion

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

accrual; accruement; accumulation (the act of accumulating)

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

deposit; deposition (the act of putting something somewhere)

Derivation:

build up (enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The result of the process of accumulation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Context example:

the buildup of leaves blocked the drain pipes

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

accretion; accumulation (an increase by natural growth or addition)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Highly favorable publicity and praise

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

his letter of recommendation gave her a terrific buildup

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

packaging; promo; promotion; promotional material; publicity (a message issued in behalf of some product or cause or idea or person or institution)

 Context examples 

Coronary artery disease is usually caused by atherosclerosis (a buildup of fatty material and plaque inside the coronary arteries).

(Coronary Artery Disease, NCI Dictionary)

This is due to the buildup of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, on their inner walls.

(Coronary Artery Disease, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Coronary heart disease is usually caused by atherosclerosis (a buildup of fatty material and plaque inside the coronary arteries).

(Coronary heart disease, NCI Dictionary)

It is caused by a block in the flow of lymph and a buildup of fluid in tissues.

(Elephantiasis, NCI Dictionary)

Problems with the cornea include: • Refractive errors • Allergies • Infections • Injuries • Dystrophies - conditions in which parts of the cornea lose clarity due to a buildup of cloudy material

(Corneal Disorders, NIH National Eye Institute)

Weakness of the heart muscle that leads to a buildup of fluid in body tissues.

(Congestive heart failure, NCI Dictionary)

The abnormal buildup of bilirubin causes jaundice.

(Bilirubin, NCI Dictionary)

A drug used to treat gout (inflamed joints caused by a buildup of uric acid).

(Colchicine, NCI Dictionary)

Treatment to reduce lymphedema (swelling caused by a buildup of lymph fluid in tissue).

(Complex decongestive therapy, NCI Dictionary)

Compression garments are used in the treatment of lymphedema (swelling caused by a buildup of lymph fluid in tissue).

(Compression garment, NCI Dictionary)