make
Pronunciation: /meɪk/
verb ( pastand past participle made /meɪd/)
- 1form (something) by putting parts together or combining substances; create: my grandmother made a dress for me cricket bats are made of willow
- (make something into) alter something so that it forms (something else): buffalo’s milk can be made into cheese
- compose or draw up (something written or abstract): make a list of all the points you can think of
- prepare (a dish, drink, or meal): she was making lunch for Lucy and Francis
- arrange bedclothes tidily on (a bed) ready for use: after breakfast you’d have until 8.25 to make your bed
- arrange and light materials for (a fire).
- Electronics complete or close (a circuit).
- 2cause (something) to exist or come about; bring about: the drips had made a pool on the floor
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- carry out, perform, or produce (a specified action or sound): anyone can make a mistake
- (in soccer) enable a teammate to score (a goal) by one’s play.
- communicate or express (an idea, request, or requirement): there are two more points to make
- archaic enter into a contract of (marriage): as many sailors do, he made a foolish marriage
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- cause to be successful: the work which made Wordsworth’s reputation
- 3
- 4constitute; amount to: they made an unusual duo
- be suitable for or likely to develop into: this fern makes a good houseplant
- consider to be; estimate as: How many are there? I make it sixteen
- agree or decide on (a specified arrangement): let’s make it 7.30
- 5gain or earn (money or profit): he’d made a lot of money out of hardware
- Cricket score (a specified number of runs): he made a century
- 6manage to arrive at (a place) within a specified time or catch (a train or other form of transport): we’ve got a lot to do if you’re going to make the shuttle they didn’t always make it on time
- (make it) become successful: he waited confidently for his band to make it
- (make it) succeed in reaching safety or in surviving: the pilot didn’t make it—his neck’s broken
- achieve a place in: Australia should make the final
- achieve the rank of: he wasn’t going to make captain
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- 8North American informal induce (someone) to have sexual intercourse with one: he had been trying to make Cynthia for two years now
noun
Phrases
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be made of money
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be made up
- 2Irish be assured of success; be lucky: what with the high prices since the war started, we’ll be made up if it lasts
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have (got) it made
- informal be in a position where success is certain: because your dad’s a manager, he’s got it made
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make a day (or night) of it
- devote a whole day (or night) to an activity.
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make someone's day
- make an otherwise ordinary or dull day pleasingly memorable for someone: a mention in her favourite mag would make her day
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make a House
- British secure the presence of enough members for a quorum or support in the House of Commons.
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make do
- manage with the limited or inadequate means available: Dad would have to make do with an old car
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make like
- North American informal pretend to be; imitate: now make like my pants and split
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make or break
- be the factor which decides whether (something) will succeed or fail: the soundtrack can make or break a production
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make sail
Sailing - spread a sail or sails.
- start a voyage.
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make time
- 1find an occasion when time is available to do something: the nurse should make time to talk to the patient
- 2North American informal make sexual advances to someone: I couldn’t make time with Marilyn because she was already a senior
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make up one's mind
- make a decision; decide: he made up his mind to attend the meeting
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make way
- 1allow room for someone or something else: the land is due to be concreted over to make way for a car park
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on the make
informal - intent on gain, typically in an unscrupulous way: a hard-faced girl on the make
- looking for a sexual partner: he was always on the make and he had a very quick turnover
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put the make on
- North American informal make sexual advances to (someone): Vince was hoping to put the make on his boss’s wife
Phrasal Verbs
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make after
- dated pursue (someone).
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make away with
- another way of saying make off with.
- kill (someone): for all we know she could have been made away with
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make for
- 1move or head towards (a place): I made for the life raft and hung on for dear life
- approach (someone) to attack them.
- 2tend to result in or be received as (a particular thing): job descriptions never make for exciting reading
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make something of
- give a specified amount of attention or importance to: he makes little of America’s low investment rates
- understand the meaning or character of: he wasn’t sure what to make of Sue
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make off
- leave hurriedly, especially in order to avoid duty or punishment: they made off without paying
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make off with
- carry (something) away illicitly: burglars made off with all their wedding presents
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make out
informal - 2North American informal engage in sexual activity: teenagers were making out on the couch Ernie was making out with Berenice
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make someone/thing out
- 1manage with some difficulty to see or hear something: in the dim light it was difficult to make out the illustration
- understand the character or motivation of: I can’t make her out—she’s so inconsistent
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- try to give a specified impression; pretend: he made out he was leaving
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make someone over
- give someone a new image with hairstyling, make-up, or clothes.
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make something over
- transfer the possession of something to someone: if he dies childless he is to make over his share of the estate to his brother
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make up
- be reconciled after a quarrel: let’s kiss and make up
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make someone up
- apply cosmetics to oneself or another: (as adjective made up) heavily made-up women in short skirts
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make something up
- 1 (also make up for) compensate for something lost, missed, or deficient: I’ll make up the time tomorrow
- (make it up to) compensate someone for negligent or unfair treatment: I’ll try to make it up to you in the future
- 2 (make up) (of parts) compose or constitute (a whole): women make up 56 per cent of the student body
- complete an amount or group: he brought along a girl to make up a foursome
- 3put together or prepare something from parts or ingredients: make up the mortar to a consistency that can be moulded in the hands
- get an amount or group together: he was trying to make up a party to go dancing
- prepare a bed for use with fresh bedclothes.
- Printing arrange text and illustrations into pages.
- 4invent a story, lie, or plan: she enjoyed making up tall tales (as adjective made up) a made-up story
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make up to
- British informal attempt to win the favour of (someone) by being pleasant: you can’t go on about morals when you’re making up to Adam like that
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make with
- US informal proceed to use or supply: make with the feet, honey—you’re embarrassing Jim
Origin:
Old English macian, of West Germanic origin, from a base meaning 'fitting'; related to match1