building

[ bil-ding ]

/ ˈbɪl dɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR building ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a relatively permanent enclosed construction over a plot of land, having a roof and usually windows and often more than one level, used for any of a wide variety of activities, as living, entertaining, or manufacturing.

anything built or constructed.

the act, business, or practice of constructing houses, office buildings, etc.

Nearby words

build-up, buildable, builder, builder's knot, buildering, building, building and loan association, building block, building line, building paper, building permit

Origin of building

First recorded in 1250–1300, building is from the Middle English word byldinge. See build, -ing¹

Related formsbuild·ing·less, adjectiveun·der·build·ing, noun

Synonym study

1. Building, edifice, structure refer to something built. Building and structure may apply to either a finished or an unfinished product of construction, and carry no implications as to size or condition. Edifice is a more formal word and narrower in application, referring to a completed structure, and usually a large and imposing one. Building generally connotes a useful purpose (houses, schools, business offices, etc.); structure suggests the planning and constructive process.

Definition for building (2 of 2)

build

[ bild ]

/ bɪld /

verb (used with object), built or (Archaic) build·ed; build·ing.

to construct (especially something complex) by assembling and joining parts or materials: to build a house.

to establish, increase, or strengthen (often followed by up): to build a business; to build up one's hopes.

to mold, form, or create: to build boys into men.

to base; found: a relationship built on trust.

Games.

to make (words) from letters.
to assemble (cards) according to number, suit, etc., as in melding.

verb (used without object), built or (Archaic) build·ed; build·ing.

to engage in the art, practice, or business of building.

to form or construct a plan, system of thought, etc. (usually followed by on or upon): He built on the philosophies of the past.

to increase or develop toward a maximum, as of intensity, tempo, or magnitude (often followed by up): The drama builds steadily toward a climax.

noun

the physical structure, especially of a person; physique; figure: He had a strong build.

the manner or form of construction: The house was of modern build.

Computers.

a version of a program after compilation, typically an update to an existing version made before the program is released.
the process of producing a software build.
a new version or update of data in a database or on a website: frequent, incremental builds of data.

Masonry.

a vertical joint.
the vertical dimension of a stone laid on its bed.

Verb Phrases

build in/into, to build or incorporate as part of something else: to build in bookcases between the windows; an allowance for travel expenses built into the budget.

build up,

to develop or increase: to build up a bank account.
to strengthen.
to prepare in stages.
to fill in with houses; develop into an urban area.
to praise or flatter.

Origin of build

before 1150; Middle English bilden, Old English byldan, derivative of bold, variant of botl dwelling, house

Related forms

build·a·ble, adjectivemis·build, verb, mis·built, mis·build·ing.out·build, verb (used with object), out·built, out·build·ing.pre·build, verb (used with object), pre·built, pre·build·ing.

su·per·build, verb, su·per·built, su·per·build·ing.un·build·a·ble, adjectiveun·der·build, verb, un·der·built, un·der·build·ing.

Can be confusedbilled build

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for building

But no more so than the Sodexo building maintenance man or the two cops who were also killed in the crossfire.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The most recent issue contains detailed instructions for building car bombs, and the magazine frequently draws up hit-lists.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Millions of dollars in renovation later the building is gorgeous—Clean, well-kept, organized.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The building used to be an all-girls school, and when it was initially purchased by Fortune it was dilapidated.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Home visitation is a great example of building political support the right way—by doing what works.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball?|Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mr. R. M. Watts was the architect, and the cost of erecting and equipping the building, exclusive of books, was 3234.
The City of Auckland|John Barr
I shall only forge at night; and the building is out of the world, and wedged in, out of sight, between two bleak hills.
Put Yourself in His Place|Charles Reade
The building is so far beyond any familiar proportions that at first sight all details are lost upon its broad front.
Ave Roma Immortalis, Vol. 2|Francis Marion Crawford
The cost of building churches and supporting ministers would thus have been unnecessary, but God does not do things in that way.
With the Children on Sunday|Sylvanus Stall
Punch was occupying a rug on my library floor, virtuously engaged with building blocks.
Dear Enemy|Jean Webster

British Dictionary definitions for building (1 of 2)

building

/ (ˈbɪldɪŋ) /

noun

something built with a roof and walls, such as a house or factory

the act, business, occupation, or art of building houses, boats, etc

British Dictionary definitions for building (2 of 2)

build

/ (bɪld) /

verb builds, building or built

to make, construct, or form by joining parts or materialsto build a house

(intr) to be a builder by profession

(tr) to order the building ofthe government builds most of our hospitals

(foll by on or upon) to base; foundhis theory was not built on facts

(tr) to establish and developit took ten years to build a business

(tr) to make in a particular way or for a particular purposethe car was not built for speed

(intr often foll by up) to increase in intensitythe wind was building

cards

to add cards to each other to form (a sequence or set)
(intr) to add to the layout of cards on the table from one's hand

noun

physical form, figure, or proportionsa man with an athletic build

Word Origin for build

Old English byldan; related to bylda farmer, bold building, Old Norse bōl farm, dwelling; see bower 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for building (1 of 3)

building

"a structure," c.1300, verbal noun from build (v.).

Word Origin and History for building (1 of 3)

build

late Old English byldan "construct a house," verb form of bold "house," from Proto-Germanic *buthlam (cf. Old Saxon bodl, Old Frisian bodel "building, house"), from PIE *bhu- "to dwell," from root *bheue- "to be, exist, grow" (see be). Rare in Old English; in Middle English it won out over more common Old English timbran (see timber). Modern spelling is unexplained. Figurative use from mid-15c. Of physical things other than buildings from late 16c. Related: Builded (archaic); built; building.

In the United States, this verb is used with much more latitude than in England. There, as Fennimore Cooper puts it, everything is BUILT. The priest BUILDS up a flock; the speculator a fortune; the lawyer a reputation; the landlord a town; and the tailor, as in England, BUILDS up a suit of clothes. A fire is BUILT instead of made, and the expression is even extended to individuals, to be BUILT being used with the meaning of formed. [Farmer, "Slang and Its Analogues," 1890]

Word Origin and History for building (2 of 3)

build

"style of construction," 1660s, from build (v.). Earlier in this sense was built (1610s). Meaning "physical construction and fitness of a person" attested by 1981. Earliest sense, now obsolete, was "a building" (early 14c.).

Idioms and Phrases with building

build

In addition to the idioms beginning with build

build down
build in
build on
build on sand
build up

also see:

light (build) a fire under

Also see underbuilt.

building

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of building

Synonym study

Definition for building (2 of 2)

build

verb (used with object), built or (Archaic) build·ed; build·ing.

verb (used without object), built or (Archaic) build·ed; build·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of build

Examples from the Web for building

British Dictionary definitions for building (1 of 2)

building

noun

British Dictionary definitions for building (2 of 2)

build

verb builds, building or built

noun

Word Origin for build

Word Origin and History for building (1 of 3)

building

Word Origin and History for building (1 of 3)

build

Word Origin and History for building (2 of 3)

build

Idioms and Phrases with building

build