Showing results for "make-up"

• a variation of makeup.

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• make-up
  make-up

  noun

  cosmetics, such as powder, lipstick, etc, applied to the face to improve its appearance
• make up
  make up

  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.

make-up

British  

noun

1. cosmetics, such as powder, lipstick, etc, applied to the face to improve its appearance

2. 1. the cosmetics, false hair, etc, used by an actor to highlight his features or adapt his appearance

   2. the art or result of applying such cosmetics

3. the manner of arrangement of the parts or qualities of someone or something

4. the arrangement of type matter and illustrations on a page or in a book

5. mental or physical constitution

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verb

1. (tr) to form or constitute

   these arguments make up the case for the defence

2. (tr) to devise, construct, or compose, sometimes with the intent to deceive

   to make up a song

   to make up an excuse

3. (tr) to supply what is lacking or deficient in; complete

   these extra people will make up our total

4. (tr) to put in order, arrange, or prepare

   to make up a bed

5. to compensate or atone (for)

   his kindness now makes up for his rudeness yesterday

6. to settle (differences) amicably (often in the phrase make it up )

7. to apply cosmetics to (the face) to enhance one's appearance or so as to alter the appearance for a theatrical role

8. to assemble (type and illustrations) into (columns or pages)

9. (tr) to surface (a road) with asphalt, concrete, etc

10. (tr)

    1. to set in order and balance (accounts)

    2. to draw up (accounting statements)

11. to decide (about something or to do something)

    he made up his mind to take vengeance

12. informal

    1. to make friendly overtures to

    2. to flirt with

make up Idioms  

1. 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.

2. Constitute, form, as in One hundred years make up a century . [Late 1500s]

3. Change one's appearance; apply cosmetics. For example, He made himself up as an old man . [c. 1800]

4. 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.

5. 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 .

6. 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 .

7. 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.

8. 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 .

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

make-up make up

During a recent interview with the magazine Women's Wear Daily, she revealed she wear tests all of the products herself and often creates items she wishes she already had in her make-up bag.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

Dish Patel, 23, from London, says she was spending so much on clothes, food, make-up and skincare as a student that she "maxed out" her £2,500 overdraft and was "always broke".

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Dolly Parton may be known for her glamorous wigs and full face of make-up, but Alex Jones says, before she becomes Dolly on stage, she is "still absolutely striking".

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

Zoella, 36, who made her name with make-up videos before moving on to books and her own range of products, applied for planning back in May.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

“Starving. I had to take a make-up quiz during lunch. Did you eat already? Please tell me your parents at least believe in eating lunch. Otherwise I might actually have to call Child Protective Services.”

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway

Protocols’ recommendations, often presented as “simple,” collectively make up a firehose that’s impossible to drink from.

From Slate ● Sep. 18, 2026

While they make up 20% of Israel's population, they represent about 35% of those involved in the sport at elite level nationally.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Columna is a nod to Angelenos who make up the backbone of the city.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

Another agent couldn’t find the data to create a financial model, so it instructed itself to make up the data and “be transparent only if asked.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

“I’ll go make up your bed and set you up. I’m sorry we’re not prepared. They really didn’t give us a lot of warning that you were on your way.”

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste