build

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to develop and grow

   Suspense was building right from the beginning of the opera.

2. 2
   verb

   to form or accumulate steadily

   My anticipation built as the date grew closer.

3. 3
   verb

   to bolster or strengthen

   We need to build our team.

4. 4
   verb

   to found or ground

   I built a defense on nothing but the accused person's reputation.

5. 5
   verb

   to make by combining materials and parts

   We're going to build us one of those Trojan horses!

6. 6
   verb

   to build or establish something abstract

   I built a reputation on trust and competency.

7. 7
   verb

   to be engaged in building

   These architects build in interesting and new styles.

8. 8
   verb

   to give form to, according to a plan

   We built a modern nation.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *buþlijan Old English bytlan Middle English bylden English build From Middle English bilden, bulden, bylden, from Old English byldan and bytlan, bytlian (“to build”), from Proto-West Germanic *buþlijan (“to build”), from Proto-Germanic *buþlą, *bōþlą (“house, dwelling, farm”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to become, grow, thrive, be, live, dwell”). Related to Old English botl (“building, house”). More at bottle.