'build up' definitions:

Definition of 'build up'

From: WordNet
verb
Enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages; "build up your savings"
verb
Form or accumulate steadily; "Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly"; "Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border" [syn: build up, work up, build, progress]
verb
Prepare oneself for a military confrontation; "The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East"; "troops are building up on the Iraqi border" [syn: arm, build up, fortify, gird] [ant: demilitarise, demilitarize, disarm]
verb
Bolster or strengthen; "We worked up courage"; "build up confidence"; "ramp up security in the airports" [syn: build up, work up, build, ramp up]
verb
Change the use of and make available or usable; "develop land"; "The country developed its natural resources"; "The remote areas of the country were gradually built up" [syn: build up, develop]