buildbuild1 /bɪld/ ●●● verb (past tense and past participle built /bɪlt/ ) 
1[intransitive, transitive] to make a structure such as a house, factory, ship, etc.: 
The city lacks the money to build a new bridge. More homes are being built near the lake. Most of the houses are built of bricks.THESAURUSconstruct – to build something large such as a building, bridge, etc.: There are plans to construct a new library.put up – to build something such as a wall or building: It took five years to put up the skyscraper.erect formal – to build something: A memorial will be erected at the site of the World Trade Center.assemble – to put all the parts of something such as a machine or a piece of furniture together: The bicycle is easy to assemble.2[transitive] also build up to make something develop or form: We’re working to build a more peaceful world. He’d been working 14-hour days to build up the business.3[intransitive, transitive] also build up to increase, or to make something increase: The tension between them was building. In diabetes, sugar builds up in the bloodstream and causes damage. He gave a confidence-building talk before the big game. [Origin: Old English byldan]build into phrasal verb1to make something a permanent part of a system, agreement, etc.: A completion date was built into the contract.2to make something so that it is a permanent part of a structure, machine, etc.: There was a cash machine built into the wall.build on phrasal verb1build on something to use your achievements in order to develop something further: The soccer league hopes to build on the popularity of the game among young people.2build something on something to base something on an idea or thing: Our relationship is built on loyalty and trust.build up phrasal verb build up somebody’s hopes to unfairly make someone think that s/he will get what s/he is hoping for: Don’t build her hopes up.build up to phrasal verb to gradually prepare for something: I had built up to swimming 50 lengths.
1[intransitive, transitive] to make a structure such as a house, factory, ship, etc.: The city lacks the money to build a new bridge. More homes are being built near the lake. Most of the houses are built of bricks.THESAURUSconstruct – to build something large such as a building, bridge, etc.: There are plans to construct a new library.put up – to build something such as a wall or building: It took five years to put up the skyscraper.erect formal – to build something: A memorial will be erected at the site of the World Trade Center.assemble – to put all the parts of something such as a machine or a piece of furniture together: The bicycle is easy to assemble.2[transitive] also build up to make something develop or form: We’re working to build a more peaceful world. He’d been working 14-hour days to build up the business.3[intransitive, transitive] also build up to increase, or to make something increase: The tension between them was building. In diabetes, sugar builds up in the bloodstream and causes damage. He gave a confidence-building talk before the big game. [Origin: Old English byldan]build into phrasal verb1to make something a permanent part of a system, agreement, etc.: A completion date was built into the contract.2to make something so that it is a permanent part of a structure, machine, etc.: There was a cash machine built into the wall.build on phrasal verb1build on something to use your achievements in order to develop something further: The soccer league hopes to build on the popularity of the game among young people.2build something on something to base something on an idea or thing: Our relationship is built on loyalty and trust.build up phrasal verb build up somebody’s hopes to unfairly make someone think that s/he will get what s/he is hoping for: Don’t build her hopes up.build up to phrasal verb to gradually prepare for something: I had built up to swimming 50 lengths.
