1.  To erect or construct, as an edifice or fabric of any kind; to form by uniting materials into a regular structure; to fabricate; to make; to raise. [1913 Webster]
"Nor aught availed him now
To have built in heaven high towers." [1913 Webster]

2.  To raise or place on a foundation; to form, establish, or produce by using appropriate means. [1913 Webster]
"Who builds his hopes in air of your good looks." [1913 Webster]

3.  To increase and strengthen; to increase the power and stability of; to settle, or establish, and preserve; -- frequently with up; as, to build up one's constitution. [1913 Webster]
"I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up." [1913 Webster]

1.  To exercise the art, or practice the business, of building. [1913 Webster]

2.  To rest or depend, as on a foundation; to ground one's self or one's hopes or opinions upon something deemed reliable; to rely; as, to build on the opinions or advice of others. [1913 Webster]

   Form or mode of construction; general figure; make; as, the build of a ship; a great build on a man. [1913 Webster]

build, v. & n.
--v.tr. (past and past. part. built)
1 a construct (a house, vehicle, fire, road, model, etc.) by putting parts or material together. b commission, finance, and oversee the building of (the council has built two new schools).
2 (often foll. by up) establish, develop, make, or accumulate gradually (built the business up from nothing); (often foll. by on); base (hopes, theories, etc.) (ideas built on a false foundation).
3 (as built adj.) having a specified build (sturdily built; brick-built).
--n.
1 the proportions of esp. the human body (a slim build).
2 a style of construction; a make (build of his suit was pre-war).

Idiom:
build in incorporate as part of a structure. build in (or round or up) surround with houses etc.; block up. build on add (an extension etc.). build up 1 increase in size or strength.
2 praise; boost.
3 gradually become established.
build-up n.
1 a favourable description in advance; publicity.
2 a gradual approach to a climax or maximum (the build-up was slow but sure).
built-in
1 forming an integral part of a structure.
2 forming an integral part of a person's character (built-in integrity). built on sand unstable.
built-up
1 (of a locality) densely covered by houses etc.
2 increased in height etc. by the addition of parts.
3 composed of separately prepared parts.

Etymology:
OE byldan f. bold dwelling f. Gmc: cf. BOWER(1), BOOTH

VB  produce, perform, operate, do, make, gar, form, construct, fabricate, frame, contrive, manufacture, weave, forge, coin, carve, chisel, build, raise, edify, rear, erect, put together, set up, run up, establish, constitute, compose, organize, institute, achieve, accomplish, flower, bear fruit, fructify, teem, ean, yean, farrow, drop, pup, kitten, kindle, bear, lay, whelp, bring forth, give birth to, lie in, be brought to bed of, evolve, pullulate, usher into the world, make productive, create, beget, get, generate, fecundate, impregnate, procreate, progenerate, propagate, engender, bring into being, call into being, bring into existence, breed, hatch, develop, bring up, induce, superinduce, suscitate, cause, acquire.

N  form, figure, shape, conformation, configuration, make, formation, frame, construction, cut, set, build, trim, cut of one's jib, stamp, type, cast, mold, fashion, contour, structure, plasmature, feature, lineament, turn, phase, posture, attitude, pose, morphism, isomorphism, forming, formation, figuration, efformation, sculpture, plasmation, formed, plastic, fictile, formative, fluid, plasmic, isomorphous, pleomorphic, protean, changeable.

VB  form, shape, figure, fashion, efform, carve, cut, chisel, hew, cast, rough hew, rough cast, sketch, block out, hammer out, trim, lick into shape, put into shape, model, knead, work up into, set, mold, sculpture, cast, stamp, build.

body build, build in, build on, build up, build upon