build up

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build up (third-person singular simple present builds up, present participle building up, simple past and past participle built up)

1. To erect; to construct.

   Synonyms: assemble, build, put together; see also Thesaurus:build

   Antonyms: take down, tear down, disassemble

   Coordinate terms: rebuild, restore

2. To close up by building.

   Synonyms: close, close off, close up, cover, cover up, enclose, shut, shut in, shut off, shut up

   to build up a door

3. (intransitive, transitive, idiomatic) To accumulate: to increase incrementally or continually.

   Synonyms: pile up, amass, heap up; see also Thesaurus:pile up

   Ever since the secretary left, the letters in my inbox have started to build up.

   • 1962 April, R. K. Evans, “The Acceptance Testing of Diesel Locomotives”, in Modern Railways, page 268:

     The first English Electric units were not fitted with an anti-slip brake, but a hurried consultation of the wiring diagram showed that it should be possible to hold in the low-voltage anti-slip relay for long enough to let speed build up without cutting off the motor current.

   • 2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1-0 Bolton”, in BBC:

     Their first half was marred by the entire side playing too deep, completely unable to build up any form of decent possession once the ball left their bewildered defence.

   • 2013 July-August, Stephen P. Lownie, David M. Pelz, “Stents to Prevent Stroke”, in American Scientist:

     As we age, the major arteries of our bodies frequently become thickened with plaque, a fatty material with an oatmeal-like consistency that builds up along the inner lining of blood vessels.

4. (transitive, idiomatic) To strengthen.

   Coordinate terms: augment, fortify, reinforce, toughen up; see also Thesaurus:strengthen

   They had to build up their fortress to protect against attack.

   • 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:

     "It took it out of me, though. I'm a rag this morning." "They work you too hard, dear. I'll take you to Margate and build you up." "Well, maybe at Easter we could do a week."

5. (card games) In solitaire card games, to place a card over another card of lower value. (e.g., place 5♦ over 4♣)

   Antonym: build down

build up

1. Misspelling of buildup.

• upbuild