push-up

[poosh-uhp]

noun

1. an exercise in which a person, keeping a prone position with the hands palms down under the shoulders, the balls of the feet on the ground, and the back straight, pushes the body up and lets it down by an alternate straightening and bending of the arms.

adjective

1. (of a brassiere) having padding and usually underwires in the lower part of the cups so as to raise the breasts and make them seem fuller.

2. (of a sleeve) made to be pushed up the arm, away from the wrist or elbow, so as to create a puffed or creased fullness.

push-up

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): press-up. an exercise in which the body is alternately raised from and lowered to the floor by the arms only, the trunk being kept straight with the toes and hands resting on the floor

Word History and Origins

Origin of push-up¹

First recorded in 1905–10; noun use of verb phrase push up

Related Words

• climb 
• grow 
• lift 
• move up 
• rocket 
• soar 
• surge