From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
build
n 1: constitution of the human body [syn: physique, build,
body-build, habitus]
2: alternative names for the body of a human being; "Leonardo
studied the human body"; "he has a strong physique"; "the
spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" [syn: human body,
physical body, material body, soma, build, figure,
physique, anatomy, shape, bod, chassis, frame,
form, flesh]
v 1: make by combining materials and parts; "this little pig
made his house out of straw"; "Some eccentric constructed
an electric brassiere warmer" [syn: construct, build,
make]
2: form or accumulate steadily; "Resistance to the manager's
plan built up quickly"; "Pressure is building up at the
Indian-Pakistani border" [syn: build up, work up,
build, progress]
3: build or establish something abstract; "build a reputation"
[syn: build, establish]
4: improve the cleansing action of; "build detergents"
5: order, supervise, or finance the construction of; "The
government is building new schools in this state"
6: give form to, according to a plan; "build a modern nation";
"build a million-dollar business"
7: be engaged in building; "These architects build in
interesting and new styles"
8: found or ground; "build a defense on nothing but the accused
person's reputation"
9: bolster or strengthen; "We worked up courage"; "build up
confidence"; "ramp up security in the airports" [syn: {build
up}, work up, build, ramp up]
10: develop and grow; "Suspense was building right from the
beginning of the opera"
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Build \Build\ (b[i^]ld), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Built (b[i^]lt);
p. pr. & vb. n. Building. The regular imp. & p. p.
Builded is antiquated.] [OE. bulden, bilden, AS. byldan to
build, fr. bold house; cf. Icel. b[=o]l farm, abode, Dan. bol
small farm, OSw. bol, b["o]le, house, dwelling, fr. root of
Icel. b[=u]a to dwell; akin to E. be, bower, boor. [root]97.]
1. To erect or construct, as an edifice or fabric of any
kind; to form by uniting materials into a regular
structure; to fabricate; to make; to raise.
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Nor aught availed him now
To have built in heaven high towers. --Milton.
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2. To raise or place on a foundation; to form, establish, or
produce by using appropriate means.
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Who builds his hopes in air of your good looks.
--Shak.
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3. To increase and strengthen; to increase the power and
stability of; to settle, or establish, and preserve; --
frequently with up; as, to build up one's constitution.
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I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace,
which is able to build you up. --Acts xx. 32.
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Syn: To erect; construct; raise; found; frame.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Build \Build\ (b[i^]ld), v. i.
1. To exercise the art, or practice the business, of
building.
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2. To rest or depend, as on a foundation; to ground one's
self or one's hopes or opinions upon something deemed
reliable; to rely; as, to build on the opinions or advice
of others.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Build \Build\, n.
Form or mode of construction; general figure; make; as, the
build of a ship; a great build on a man.
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