English Dictionary

Definition of “build”

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build (bɪldPronunciation for build) 

Definitions

verb

Word forms: builds, building, built
  1. to make, construct, or form by joining parts or materials  ⇒ to build a house 
  2. (intr) to be a builder by profession
  3. (tr) to order the building of  ⇒ the government builds most of our hospitals 
  4. on or upon to base; found  ⇒ his theory was not built on facts 
  5. (tr) to establish and develop  ⇒ it took ten years to build a business 
  6. (tr) to make in a particular way or for a particular purpose  ⇒ the car was not built for speed 
  7. (intr) up to increase in intensity  ⇒ the wind was building 
  8. cards 
    1. to add cards to each other to form (a sequence or set)
    2. (intr) to add to the layout of cards on the table from one's hand

noun

  1. physical form, figure, or proportions  ⇒ a man with an athletic build 

See also

build in , build into , build up

Word Origin

Old English byldan ; related to bylda  farmer, bold  building, Old Norse bōl farm, dwelling; see bowerOld English ; related to farmer, building, Old Norse farm, dwelling; see 1

Translations

  • British English: build Pronunciation for build If you build a structure, you make it by joining things together.Developers are proposing to build a hotel on the site.bɪld VERB Developers are proposing to build a hotel on the site.
  • Spanish: construir Pronunciation for construir v
  • French: construire Pronunciation for construire vt
  • German: bauen Pronunciation for bauen vt
  • Chinese: 建造Pronunciation for 建造 vt
  • Arabic: يَبْنيPronunciation for يَبْني vt
  • Portuguese: construirPronunciation for construir vt
  • Russian: строитьPronunciation for строить vt
  • Croatian: graditiPronunciation for graditi v
  • Czech: postavitPronunciation for postavit vt stavět
  • Danish: byggePronunciation for bygge v
  • Dutch: bouwenPronunciation for bouwen vt
  • Finnish: rakentaaPronunciation for rakentaa v
  • Greek: χτίζωPronunciation for χτίζω v
  • Italian: costruirePronunciation for costruire v
  • Japanese: 建てるPronunciation for 建てる v
  • Korean: ...을 짓다Pronunciation for ...을 짓다 vt
  • Norwegian: byggePronunciation for bygge v
  • Polish: zbudowaćPronunciation for zbudować vt budować
  • Brazilian Portuguese: construirPronunciation for construir vt
  • European Spanish: construir Pronunciation for construir v
  • Swedish: byggaPronunciation for bygga vt
  • Thai: สร้างPronunciation for สร้าง vt
  • Turkish: inşa etmekPronunciation for inşa etmek vt
  • Vietnamese: xây dựngPronunciation for xây dựng v

Usage examples

  • Today, all the industries he helped to build have been privatized.
    Mark Burnell, CHAMELEON (2002)
  • Here, planning restrictions make it virtually impossible to build anything new.
    Country Life (2004)
  • "The Xbox is a great entertainment platform for us to build out.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • Conversely, others do not really want several acres on which to build a retirement bungalow.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • But what of soil conditions of the Ancient Britons who were finding the bricks in England to build the Stonehenge.
    Alexander Games (compiler), THE ESSENTIAL SPIKE MILLIGAN (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'B'

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