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Showing results for "make-up"
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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.

Synonyms

make-up

British  

noun

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

    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

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

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

  4. mental or physical constitution

"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

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

"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
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 .


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

He added: "As the 007 team themselves have explained, external in the past: 'Bond screen tests are elaborate affairs involving hair and make-up, costumes, sets, and other actors'."

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Bollywood actress Richa Chadha, meanwhile, offered other tips to avoid detention while filming herself drawing on her face with make-up on Sunday.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

"Dear protesters, since you're being filmed without your consent, try using make-up to dodge surveillance/facial recognition cameras," she said on social media.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

Around 10-15% of people with stage two or three bowel cancer have this genetic make-up, equivalent to roughly 2,000-3,000 cases each year in the UK.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

What I remember now, most of all, is the make-up.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

We need to reemphasize how tall an order this is, and the amount of ground Democrats need to make up relative to 2024.

From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026

"Other Christians" including evangelicals account for 13 percent, while other religions make up seven percent.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

Analysts polled by FactSet are currently expecting $30.54 billion in full-year product sales, which make up the vast majority of Gilead’s top line.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Data shows that undertrial prisoners - individuals who are detained while they await police investigation or court trials - make up more than 73% of India's total prison population.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

My teacher, Helen Tarrana, was good about letting me make up the time I lost.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell

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