- 1 [uncountable] substances used especially by women to make their faces look more attractive, or used by actors to change their appearance eye make-up to put on your make-up She never wears make-up. a make-up artist (= a person whose job is to put make-up on the faces of actors and models) CollocationsClothes and fashionClothes be wearing a new outfit/bright colours/fancy dress/fur/uniform be (dressed) in black/red/jeans and a T-shirt/your best suit/leather/silk/rags (= very old torn clothes) be dressed for work/school/dinner/a special occasion be dressed as a man/woman/clown/pirate wear/dress in casual/designer/second-hand clothes wear jewellery/(especially US English) jewelry/accessories/a watch/glasses/contact lenses/perfume have a cowboy hat/red dress/blue suit on put on/take off your clothes/coat/shoes/helmet pull on/pull off your coat/gloves/socks change into/get changed into a pair of jeans/your pyjamas/(especially US English) your pajamasAppearance change/enhance/improve your appearance create/get/have/give something a new/contemporary/retro look brush/comb/shampoo/wash/blow-dry your hair have/get a haircut/your hair cut/a new hairstyle have/get a piercing/your nose pierced have/get a tattoo/a tattoo done (on your arm)/a tattoo removed have/get a makeover/cosmetic surgery use/wear/apply/put on make-up/cosmeticsFashion follow/keep up with (the) fashion/the latest fashions spend/waste money on designer clothes be fashionably/stylishly/well dressed have good/great/terrible/awful taste in clothes update/revamp your wardrobe be in/come into/go out of fashion be (back/very much) in vogue create a style/trend/vogue for something organize/put on a fashion show show/unveil a designer’s spring/summer collection sashay/strut down the catwalk/(North American English also) runway be on/do a photo/fashion shoot Wordfindermake-upblusher, cleanser, eyeliner, eyeshadow, foundation, lipstick, make-up, mascara, moisturizer, nail polish Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveheavy, thick, full, … verb + make-upuse, wear, apply, … make-up + verbrun, smear make-up + nounartist, girl, man, … See full entry See related entries: Film-making equipment
- 2[singular] the different qualities that combine to form somebody’s character or being Jealousy is not part of his make-up. The final act exposes the fatal flaws in his make-up. a person’s genetic make-up The report studies the psychological make-up of a serial killer. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivebiological, emotional, genetic, … phrasespart of somebody’s make-up See full entry
- 3[singular] make-up (of something) the different things, people, etc. that combine to form something; the way in which they combine the make-up of a TV audience (specialist) the page make-up of a text (= the way in which the words and pictures are arranged on a page)
- 4[countable] (North American English) a special exam taken by students who missed or failed an earlier one Extra examples He was given an Oscar for his make-up work on the film. I never wear make-up. She was checking her make-up in the mirror. You don’t wear full make-up to go swimming. a tearful girl with make-up running down her face the make-up effects for the film the unique make-up of each person Ireland did show up a number of flaws in the England team’s make-up. The final act reveals the flaws in his make-up. the genetic make-up of plants and animals
Check pronunciation: make-up
