makeup

or make-up

[ meyk-uhp ]

/ ˈmeɪkˌʌp /

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See synonyms for makeup on Thesaurus.com

noun

facial cosmetics, as eye shadow or lipstick.

cosmetics used on other parts of the body, as to cover birthmarks.

the application of cosmetics.

the ensemble or effect created by such application: Her makeup was subtle but very effective.

the total ensemble of cosmetics, wigs, costumes, etc., used by an actor or other performer.

the manner of being made up or put together; composition: the makeup of a team; the makeup of a situation.

physical or mental constitution: the makeup of a criminal.

the art, technique, or process of arranging or laying out, as pages in a publication.

the appearance of a page, book, newspaper, or the like, resulting from the arrangement and the variation in size and style of the printed elements: The makeup would be helped by a picture in this corner.

Printing. the arrangement of set type, cuts, etc., into columns or pages.

an examination, assignment, or the like, given to offset a student's previous absence or failure.

an amount owed; balance.

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Origin of makeup

First recorded in 1805–15; noun use of verb phrase make up

OTHER WORDS FROM makeup

non·make·up, adjective

Words nearby makeup

make the rounds, make the scene, make the sparks fly, make time, make tracks, makeup, make up for lost time, make up one's mind, make up to, make use of, make waves

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use makeup in a sentence

Part of their hang-up was over the makeup of the new advisory board, whose selection is made by various appointments.
Sacramento Report: Jones, COVID-19 and the Irony of Remote Voting|Sara Libby and Jesse Marx|August 28, 2020|Voice of San Diego
In Switzerland, scientists at a startup called Mootral are experimenting with a garlic-based food supplement designed to alter the bovine digestive makeup to reduce the amount of methane they emit.
Biotechnology Could Change the Cattle Industry. Will It Succeed?|Dyllan Furness|August 16, 2020|Singularity Hub
What’s been seen so far is not a case of leopards “changing their genetic behavior as changes in genetic makeup will take decades of evolution to occur,” explains Swanepoel.
Leopards Are Indeed Changing Their Spots|Eromo Egbejule|August 14, 2020|Ozy
There was our midterms forecast in 2018, which was pretty accurate in predicting the makeup of the House and the Senate.
How FiveThirtyEight’s 2020 Presidential Forecast Works — And What’s Different Because Of COVID-19|Nate Silver (nrsilver@fivethirtyeight.com)|August 12, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

The makeup of local City Councils could drastically change in cities like Escondido and Oceanside, where three seats apiece are on the ballot.
North County Report: What We Know About the November Ballot So Far|Kayla Jimenez|August 5, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Storage containers hold a treasure trove of mascara, lipstick, blush, and other makeup.
Inside A Finishing School for Transwomen|Sharon Adarlo|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her services include a makeup session for a night out for $50.
Inside A Finishing School for Transwomen|Sharon Adarlo|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her daughter, Elaina, 24, a trained costume designer and makeup artist, helps out by sewing clothes.
Inside A Finishing School for Transwomen|Sharon Adarlo|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She began teaching herself how to apply makeup through books and videos.
Inside A Finishing School for Transwomen|Sharon Adarlo|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hair and makeup have evolved stylistically along with the clothes we wear.
100 Years of Beauty Styles in 1 Minute|Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Miss Mitkin languidly took her bag out of the desk drawer and began to apply makeup.
The Tunnel Under The World|Frederik Pohl
The dam whose bursting caused this awful loss of life was very carelessly constructed, and had no stone work in its makeup.
The Blue and The Gray|A. R. White
He had a bright wit and genial manners, but moral endowments had been accidentally omitted in his makeup.
Duffels|Edward Eggleston
Fundamental as they are in our mental development, they enter into our general personality and become a part of our makeup.
The Sex Worship and Symbolism of Primitive Races|Sanger Brown, II
She was medium tall, a little on the compact side, her blond hair cut too short, no makeup on her broad Slavic features.
The Sensitive Man|Poul William Anderson

British Dictionary definitions for makeup

make-up

noun

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

verb make up (adverb)

(tr) to form or constitutethese arguments make up the case for the defence

(tr) to devise, construct, or compose, sometimes with the intent to deceiveto make up a song; to make up an excuse

(tr) to supply what is lacking or deficient in; completethese extra people will make up our total

(tr) to put in order, arrange, or prepareto make up a bed

(intr foll by for) 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)

make up one's mind to decide (about something or to do something)he made up his mind to take vengeance

make up to informal

to make friendly overtures to
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

Other Idioms and Phrases with makeup

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.

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.