ʌp adv.,
prep.,
adj., n., & v. --adv. 1
at,
in, or
towards a higher
place or
position (jumped up in
the air;
what are
they doing up there?). 2 to or in a place regarded as higher, esp.: a northwards (up in Scotland). b
Brit. towards a
major city or a
university (went up to London). 3 colloq.
ahead etc. as indicated (went up front). 4 a to or in an
erect position or
condition (stood it up). b to or in a prepared or required position (wound up the watch). c in or
into a condition of
efficiency,
activity, or
progress (stirred up
trouble; the
house is up
for sale; the
hunt is up). 5 Brit. in a stronger or
winning position or condition (our
team was three goals up; am ø10 up on the transaction). 6 (of a computer)
running and available for
use. 7 to the place or
time in
question or
where the
speaker etc. is (a
child came up to
me;
went straight up to the
door;
has been fine up till now). 8 at or to a higher
price or
value (our costs are up; shares are up). 9 a completely or effectually (burn up;
eat up; tear up; use up). b
more loudly or clearly (speak up). 10 in a
state of completion; denoting the
end of availability, supply, etc. (time is up). 11 into a compact, accumulated, or
secure state (pack up; save up;
tie up). 12
out of
bed (are
you up yet?). 13 (of the
sun etc.) having risen. 14
happening,
esp. unusually or unexpectedly (something is up). 15
taught or
informed (is well up in French). 16 (usu. foll. by before) appearing for
trial etc. (was up
before the magistrate). 17 (of a road etc.)
being repaired. 18 (of a jockey) in the
saddle. 19 towards the
source of a
river. 20
inland. 21 (of the points etc. in a game): a registered on the
scoreboard. b forming the
total score for the time being. 22
upstairs, esp. to bed (are you
going up yet?). 23 (of a theatre-curtain) raised etc. to reveal the
stage. 24 (as int.)
get up. 25 (of a ship's helm)
with rudder to
leeward. 26 in
rebellion. --prep. 1 upwards
along,
through, or into (climbed up the ladder). 2
from the
bottom to the top
of. 3 along (walked up the road). 4 a at or in a higher
part of (is situated up the street). b towards the source of (a river). --adj. 1 directed upwards (up stroke). 2 Brit. of
travel towards a capital or
centre (the up
train; the up platform). 3 (of
beer etc.) effervescent, frothy. --n. a spell of
good fortune. --v. (upped, upping) 1 intr. colloq.
start up;
begin abruptly to
say or do
something (upped and
hit him). 2 intr. (foll. by with)
raise; pick up (upped with
his stick). 3 tr.
increase or raise, esp. abruptly (upped
all their prices). øbe all up with be disastrous or
hopeless for (a person). on the up and up colloq. 1 Brit. steadily improving. 2 esp. US honest(ly); on the
level. something is up colloq. something
unusual or
undesirable is
afoot or happening. up
against 1 close
to. 2 in or into
contact with. 3 colloq. confronted with (up against a problem). up against it colloq. in
great difficulties. up-anchor Naut. weigh
anchor. up and
about (or doing) having risen from bed;
active. up-and-coming colloq. (of a person)
making good progress and
likely to
succeed. up and down 1 to and
fro (along). 2 in
every direction. 3 colloq. in varying
health or spirits. up-and-over (of a door) opened by being raised and pushed
back into a
horizontal position. up
draught an
upward draught, esp. in a
chimney. up for available for or being considered for (office etc.). up
hill and down
dale up and down hills on an
arduous journey. up in arms see
ARM(2). up-market adj. & adv. towards or relating to the dearer or more
affluent sector of the
market. up the
pole see
POLE(1). ups and downs 1 rises and falls. 2
alternate good and
bad fortune. up the
spout see SPOUT. up stage at or to the back of a
theatre stage. up sticks see
STICK(1). up-stroke a
stroke made or
written upwards. up to 1
until (up to the present). 2
not more
than (you can
have up to five). 3
less than or
equal to (sums up to ø10). 4
incumbent on (it is up to you to say). 5
capable of or fit for (am not up to a long walk). 6 occupied or
busy with (what have you been up to?). up to date see
DATE(1). up to the mark see
MARK(1). up to the minute see
MINUTE(1). up to
snuff see
SNUFF(2). up to one's tricks see
TRICK. up to a person's tricks see TRICK. up with int. expressing
support for a stated
person or
thing. what's up? colloq. 1 what is going on? 2 what is the matter? [OE up(p), uppe, rel. to OHG uf]