build-up noun 1 [sing., U] an increase in the amount of sth over a period of time     a steady build-up

of traffic in the evenings Bfe|h] ft fftjScii 2 [C, usually sing.] ~ (to sth) the time before an important event, when people are preparing for it ( Jr H ^ 'If

: the build-up to the President’s visit WHrX# 3 [C, usually sing.] a very positive and enthusiastic description of sth that is going to happen, that is intended to make people excited about it ifcnA: The media has given the show a huge build-up. #

built /bilt/ combining form (after adverbs and in com­pound adjectives fij =f gij il] jg,         j&J j$ % £ § i^) made

in the particular way that is mentioned • • ■  ; • ••lil

:       a newly built station §t It A #6 o American-built

cars It H $!] it (ft—see also purpose-built, well built

.built-'in (also less frequent ,in-'built) adj. [only before noun] included as part of sth and not separate from it

built-in

cupboards itlif — compare inbuilt , built-'up adj. [usually before noun] (especially BrE) (of an area of land K) covered in buildings, roads, etc.

M (ft :      to reduce the speed limit in built-up areas

bulb /bAlb/ noun 1 (also 'light bulb) the glass part that fits into an electric lamp, etc. to give light when it is switched on £f : a 60-watt bulb * 60 E (ft £T 0

a room lit by bare bulbs (= with no decorative cover)

( AtfW. )

picture o light 2 the round underground part of some plants, shaped like an onion , that grows into a new plant every year ( ^ ^ —picture o plant

3 an object shaped like a bulb, for example the end of

a THERMOMETER      ( flUi&jSttt (ftSfcSP )

bulb ous /'bAlbas/ adj. shaped like a bulb; round and fat in an ugly way f^JS^Alft; III         (ft: a bulbous

red nose

bul-gar (also bul-gur) /'bAlga(r)/ (also 'bulgar wheat) noun [U] a type of food consisting of grains of wheat that are boiled then dried

bulge /bAld3/ verb, noun

a verb [V] 1 ~ (with sth) (usually used in the progressive tenses il #          BJ) to be completely full (of sth)

, H jJi: Her pockets were bulging with presents, jtfe $J P ^ S sgli 7    0 0 a bulging briefcase

Atkin 2 to stick out from sth in a round shape ft tb; MM: His eyes bulged. jife)(5(J|lft tbD HH?! see seam m noun 1 a lump that sticks out from sth in a round shape    ft®: the bulge of a gun in his pocket

—lE+fcWli# 2 (informal) fat on the body that sticks out in a round shape ( #j££ft ) pPfi: That skirt’s too tight. It shows all your bulges.

IE # W £ Jfrt {v ^ ^ 7 o 3 a sudden temporary

increase in the amount of sth          After

the war there was a bulge in the birth rate. $ Is ib

bulging /’bAld3ir)/ adj. that stick out from sth in a round shape   (ft; It® : bulging eyes $tfj(ftllW

bu limia /bu'limia; bju-; -’liimia/ (also bulimia nervosa /bu.limia n3:’vausa; NAmE n3:r'voosa/) noun [U] an emotional disorder in which a person repeatedly eats too much and then forces him- or herself to vomit 'frSfcillfi —compare anorexia bulimic /bu'limik; bju-; -'liimik/ adj., noun bulk /bAlk/ noun, verb

■t noun 1 [sing.] the - (of sth) the main part of sth; most of sth ± [A; A1$ ft:        The bulk of the population lives in

cities. A£&AttMfefE$7UiL 2 [u] the (large) size or quantity of sth ( Af)          A ( M ) : Despite its bulk

and weight, the car is extremely fast, 7:AWii

Jr, it JjifMMiftflo o a bulk order (= one for a large number of similar items) — {ft A jtt M (ftiT 0 bulk buying (= buying in large amounts, often at a reduced price) (     ) A SJfi % o It’s cheaper to buy in

bulk. 3 [sing.] the weight or shape of

sb/sth large gXlft#® ( MWiM, Btt,         ) : She