English

Alternative forms

• make-up

Noun

makeup ‎(usually uncountable, plural makeups)

1. (uncountable) An item's composition.

   To understand how a nuclear reactor works, we must first look at its makeup.

2. (uncountable) Cosmetics; colorants and other substances applied to the skin to improve its appearance.

   She is wearing a lot of makeup.

3. (manufacturing) Replacement; material used to make up for the amount that has been used up.
   • 2005, William C. Whitman, William M. Johnson, John A. Tomczyk, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Technology, page 1208:

     When the water level drops, the float ball drops with it and opens the valve to the makeup water supply.

Usage notes

The alternative spelling make-up is favored by the Oxford Dictionary, and thus is often considered to be British, while makeup, being preferred by Merriam Webster's dictionary, is the generally accepted American spelling. ^[1]

Hyponyms

• See also Wikisaurus:toiletry

Translations

References

1. ↑ In reference with Jean-Claude Corbeil/Ariane Archambault: Visual Dictionary, Look up a Word from a Picture, Find the Picture from a Word. (New York, USA / Oxford, UK, 1987)