Put together, construct or compose, as in The druggist made up the prescription , or The tailor said he could make up a suit from this fabric . This usage was first recorded in 1530.
cosmetics, such as powder, lipstick, etc, applied to the face to improve its appearance
the cosmetics, false hair, etc, used by an actor to highlight his features or adapt his appearance
the art or result of applying such cosmetics
the manner of arrangement of the parts or qualities of someone or something
the arrangement of type matter and illustrations on a page or in a book
mental or physical constitution
(tr) to form or constitute
these arguments make up the case for the defence
(tr) to devise, construct, or compose, sometimes with the intent to deceive
to make up a song
to make up an excuse
(tr) to supply what is lacking or deficient in; complete
these extra people will make up our total
(tr) to put in order, arrange, or prepare
to make up a bed
to compensate or atone (for)
his kindness now makes up for his rudeness yesterday
to settle (differences) amicably (often in the phrase make it up )
to apply cosmetics to (the face) to enhance one's appearance or so as to alter the appearance for a theatrical role
to assemble (type and illustrations) into (columns or pages)
(tr) to surface (a road) with asphalt, concrete, etc
(tr)
to set in order and balance (accounts)
to draw up (accounting statements)
to decide (about something or to do something)
he made up his mind to take vengeance
informal
to make friendly overtures to
to flirt with
Put together, construct or compose, as in The druggist made up the prescription , or The tailor said he could make up a suit from this fabric . This usage was first recorded in 1530.
Constitute, form, as in One hundred years make up a century . [Late 1500s]
Change one's appearance; apply cosmetics. For example, He made himself up as an old man . [c. 1800]
Devise a fiction or falsehood; invent. For example, Mary is always making up stories for her children , or Is that account true or did you make it up? This usage was first recorded in 1828.
Compensate for, provide for a deficiency, as in Can you make up the difference in the bill? or What he lacks in height he makes up in skill . This usage was first recorded in 1538. Also see make up for lost time .
Repeat a course, take a test or do an assignment at a later time because of previous absence or failure. For example, Steve will have to make up calculus this summer , or The professor is letting me make up the exam tomorrow .
Also, make it up . Resolve a quarrel, as in The Sweeneys argue a lot but they always make up before going to sleep , or Will you two ever make it up? The first usage was first recorded in 1699, the variant in 1669.
Put in order, as in We asked them to make up the room for us , or Can you make up another bed in this room? [Early 1800s] Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with make up .
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Users go to AI bots for everything from recipes to life and relationship advice, even forming one-sided platonic or romantic relationships with the ones and zeroes that make up this digital ether behind a screen.
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Reavie usually studies algae in the Great Lakes, where they make up the base of the freshwater food web, supporting an ecosystem that in turn supports a $5 billion fishing economy.
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Memory can make up around 10% to 15% of the total bill of materials for a high-end smartphone such as an iPhone according to the research firm IDC.
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For decades, Californians have generally said immigrants, who make up more than a quarter of the state’s population and a third of its labor force, are beneficial to the state and its economy.
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The sounds of horns honking, more glass breaking, and men chanting make up the soundtrack as we move toward the back.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
