makeup
UK[ˈmeɪkʌp]US[ˈmeɪkˌʌp]
n
The substances used on the face to change or improve its appearance, such as lipstick or powder.
n
The way in which something is formed or put together; the composition or constitution of something.
n
A special test given to a student who missed or failed an earlier test.
Morpheme Breakdown
make
up
make
up
Etymology
The word 'makeup' is a compound formed from the verb 'make' and the adverbial particle 'up'. Its original 19th-century sense was "the way something is put together," a literal combination of the meanings of its parts: to construct or form ('make') into a complete or final state ('up'). This sense of composition or constitution is still in use today. By the late 19th century, this concept was specifically applied to the preparation of an actor for a role, including the application of cosmetics and wigs to 'make up' their appearance. From this theatrical context, the dominant modern meaning, referring to the cosmetics themselves, became generalized.
Analysis
Structure: make + up
- make (verb): From Old English macian, meaning "to make, form, construct, prepare." Germanic origin.
- up (adverb/particle): From Old English up, upp, meaning "upward, aloft." Germanic origin.
Examples
She applied her makeup carefully before the interview.
The genetic makeup of an organism determines its characteristics.
The professor scheduled a makeup exam for students who were ill last week.