make up

1) PHRASAL VERB The people or things that make up something are the members or parts that form that thing.

[V P n (not pron)] North Africans make up the largest and poorest immigrant group in the country...

[V P n (not pron)] Women officers make up 13 per cent of the police force...

[be V-ed P of n] Insects are made up of tens of thousands of proteins. [Also V n P]

Syn:

form

2) PHRASAL VERB If you make up something such as a story or excuse, you invent it, sometimes in order to deceive people.

[V P n (not pron)] I think it's very unkind of you to make up stories about him...

[V n P] I'm not making it up. The character exists in real life.

3) PHRASAL VERB If you make yourself up or if someone else makes you up, make-up such as powder or lipstick is put on your face.

[V n P] She spent too much time making herself up...

[V n P] She chose Maggie to make her up for her engagement photographs...

[V P n (not pron)] I can't be bothered to make up my face.

4) PHRASAL VERB If you make up an amount, you add something to it so that it is as large as it should be.

[V P n (not pron)] Less than half of the money that students receive is in the form of grants, and loans have made up the difference...

[V n P] The team had six professionals and made the number up with five amateurs...

[V n P to amount] For every ₤100 you invest into a pension plan the Inland Revenue makes it up to ₤125.

5) PHRASAL VERB If you make up time or hours, you work some extra hours because you have previously taken some time off work.

[V P n (not pron)] They'll have to make up time lost during the strike. [Also V n P]

6) PHR-V-RECIP If two people make up or make it up after a quarrel or disagreement, they become friends again.

[pl-n V P] She came back and they made up...

[pl-n V P n] They never made up the quarrel...

[V P with n] They should make up with their ex-enemy in the West...

[V it P with n] I'll make it up with him again. [Also pl-n V it P]

7) PHRASAL VERB If you make up something such as food or medicine, you prepare it by mixing or putting different things together.

[V P n (not pron)] Prepare the souffle dish before making up the souffle mixture. [Also V n P]

8) PHRASAL VERB If you make up a bed, you put sheets and blankets on it so that someone can sleep there.

[V P n (not pron)] Her mother made up a bed in her old room.