built

[ bilt ]

/ bɪlt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR built ON THESAURUS.COM

verb

simple past tense and past participle of build.

adjective

Informal.

of sound or sturdy construction: These cars are really built.
having a good physique or figure: That lifeguard is really built!

Nautical. noting any member or part of a vessel assembled from pieces: built frame; built spar.

OTHER WORDS FROM built

well-built, adjective

Words nearby built

building paper, building permit, building society, building trades, buildup, built, built cane, built-in, built-in obsolescence, built-up, built-up mast

Definition for built (2 of 2)

build

[ bild ]

/ bɪld /

verb (used with object), built or (Archaic) build·ed; build·ing.

to construct (especially something complex) by assembling and joining parts or materials: to build a house.

to establish, increase, or strengthen (often followed by up): to build a business; to build up one's hopes.

to mold, form, or create: to build boys into men.

to base; found: a relationship built on trust.

Games.

to make (words) from letters.
to assemble (cards) according to number, suit, etc., as in melding.

verb (used without object), built or (Archaic) build·ed; build·ing.

to engage in the art, practice, or business of building.

to form or construct a plan, system of thought, etc. (usually followed by on or upon): He built on the philosophies of the past.

to increase or develop toward a maximum, as of intensity, tempo, or magnitude (often followed by up): The drama builds steadily toward a climax.

noun

the physical structure, especially of a person; physique; figure: He had a strong build.

the manner or form of construction: The house was of modern build.

Computers.

a version of a program after compilation, typically an update to an existing version made before the program is released.
the process of producing a software build.
a new version or update of data in a database or on a website: frequent, incremental builds of data.

Masonry.

a vertical joint.
the vertical dimension of a stone laid on its bed.

Verb Phrases

build in/into, to build or incorporate as part of something else: to build in bookcases between the windows; an allowance for travel expenses built into the budget.

build up,

to develop or increase: to build up a bank account.
to strengthen.
to prepare in stages.
to fill in with houses; develop into an urban area.
to praise or flatter.

Origin of build

before 1150; Middle English bilden, Old English byldan, derivative of bold, variant of botl dwelling, house

OTHER WORDS FROM build

build·a·ble, adjective mis·build, verb, mis·built, mis·build·ing. out·build, verb (used with object), out·built, out·build·ing. pre·build, verb (used with object), pre·built, pre·build·ing.

su·per·build, verb, su·per·built, su·per·build·ing. un·build·a·ble, adjective un·der·build, verb, un·der·built, un·der·build·ing.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH build

billed build

Example sentences from the Web for built

His life as a man is built around health insurance and tax services.

Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President |Pierre Assouline |January 9, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
They carved a refuge out of the wilderness and then, in 200 years, built it into the most powerful nation on earth.

Mario Cuomo, Always Moving Us Toward the Light |Mike Barnicle |January 4, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Marvin hops over the edge of his retaining wall, which he built.

The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile |Robert Ward |January 3, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Denton, who speaks in the clipped cadence of the Oxford-educated Brit he is, has built quite a castle.

The Gospel According to Nick Denton—What Next For The Gawker Founder? |Lloyd Grove |December 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

According to a military spokesperson, Boko Haram had built a “female wing” in its command structure.

The New Face of Boko Haram’s Terror: Teen Girls |Nina Strochlic |December 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Raud had another exceptionally large ship, the longest in Norway, and till the "Crane" was built the swiftest also.

Famous Sea Fights |John Richard Hale
Like everything else in the Congo, this town has been arranged and built for practical use.

A Journal of a Tour in the Congo Free State |Marcus Dorman
It was evident that new shops must be built on a larger and more comprehensive scale than any that had gone before.

The Story of the Pullman Car |Joseph Husband
The first mosque was built at Canton, where after several restorations, it still exists.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 2 |Various
How can a system, built upon a stout and impudent denial of self-evident truth--a system of treating men like cattle--operate?

The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus |American Anti-Slavery Society

British Dictionary definitions for built (1 of 2)

built

/ (bɪlt) /

verb

the past tense and past participle of build

British Dictionary definitions for built (2 of 2)

build

/ (bɪld) /

verb builds, building or built

to make, construct, or form by joining parts or materials to build a house

(intr) to be a builder by profession

(tr) to order the building of the government builds most of our hospitals

(foll by on or upon) to base; found his theory was not built on facts

(tr) to establish and develop it took ten years to build a business

(tr) to make in a particular way or for a particular purpose the car was not built for speed

(intr often foll by up) to increase in intensity the wind was building

cards

to add cards to each other to form (a sequence or set)
(intr) to add to the layout of cards on the table from one's hand

noun

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

Word Origin for build

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

Idioms and Phrases with built (1 of 2)

built

see made (built) to order; not built that way; Rome wasn't built in a day. Also see under build.

Idioms and Phrases with built (2 of 2)

build

In addition to the idioms beginning with build

build down
build in
build on
build on sand
build up

also see:

light (build) a fire under

Also see underbuilt.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

built

verb

adjective

OTHER WORDS FROM built

Words nearby built

Definition for built (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), built or (Archaic) build·ed; build·ing.

verb (used without object), built or (Archaic) build·ed; build·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of build

OTHER WORDS FROM build

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH build

Example sentences from the Web for built

British Dictionary definitions for built (1 of 2)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for built (2 of 2)

verb builds, building or built

noun

Word Origin for build

Idioms and Phrases with built (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with built (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

built

verb

adjective

OTHER WORDS FROM built

Words nearby built

Definition for built (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), built or (Archaic) build·ed; build·ing.

verb (used without object), built or (Archaic) build·ed; build·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of build

OTHER WORDS FROM build

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH build

Words related to built

Example sentences from the Web for built

British Dictionary definitions for built (1 of 2)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for built (2 of 2)

verb builds, building or built

noun

Word Origin for build

Idioms and Phrases with built (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with built (2 of 2)