1.
The people or things that make up something are the members or parts that form that thing.
North Africans make up the largest and poorest immigrant group in the country...
Insects are made up of tens of thousands of proteins.
= form, constitute
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), be V-ed P of n, also V n P
2.
If you make up something such as a story or excuse, you invent it, sometimes in order to deceive people.
I think it's very unkind of you to make up stories about him...
I'm not making it up. The character exists in real life.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V n P
3.
If you make yourself up or if someone else makes you up, make-up such as powder or lipstick is put on your face.
She spent too much time making herself up...
She chose Maggie to make her up for her engagement photographs...
I can't be bothered to make up my face.
PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V n P, V P n (not pron)
4.
If you make up an amount, you add something to it so that it is as large as it should be.
Less than half of the money that students receive is in the form of grants, and loans have made up the difference...
The team had six professionals and made the number up with five amateurs...
For every ?100 you invest into a pension plan the Inland Revenue makes it up to ?125.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V n P, V n P to amount
5.
If you make up time or hours, you work some extra hours because you have previously taken some time off work.
They'll have to make up time lost during the strike.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P
6.
If two people make up or make it up after a quarrel or disagreement, they become friends again.
She came back and they made up...
They never made up the quarrel...
They should make up with their ex-enemy in the West...
I'll make it up with him again.
PHRASAL VERB: pl-n V P, pl-n V P n, V P with n, V it P with n, also pl-n V it P
7.
If you make up something such as food or medicine, you prepare it by mixing or putting different things together.
Prepare the souffle dish before making up the souffle mixture.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P
8.
If you make up a bed, you put sheets and blankets on it so that someone can sleep there.
Her mother made up a bed in her old room.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron)