6 VERB If you make someone something, you appoint them to a particular job, role, or position. □ [V n n] Mr Blair made him transport minister.
7 VERB If you make something into something else, you change it in some way so that it becomes that other thing. □ [V n + into ] We made it into a beautiful home.
8 VERB To make a total or score a particular amount means to increase it to that amount. □ [V n amount] This makes the total cost of the bulb and energy £27.
9 VERB When someone makes a friend or an enemy, someone becomes their friend or their enemy, often because of a particular thing they have done. □ [V n] Lorenzo was a natural leader who made friends easily. □ [V n + of ] He was unruly in class and made an enemy of most of his teachers.
10 PHRASE If someone makes something of themselves or makes something of their life , they become successful. □ My father lived long enough to see that I'd made something of myself. □ The nuns who taught him urged him to make something of his life and he did.
11 to make friends → see friend
➌ make ◆◆◆ /me I k/ (makes , making , made )
1 VERB To make something means to produce, construct, or create it. □ [V n] She made her own bread. □ [have n V -ed] Having curtains made professionally can be costly. □ [V n + from/out of ] They make compost out of all kinds of waste.
2 VERB If you make a note or list, you write something down in that form. □ [V n] Mr Perry made a note in his book. □ [V n] Make a list of your questions beforehand.
3 VERB If you make rules or laws, you decide what these should be. □ [V n] The police don't make the laws, they merely enforce them.
4 VERB If you make money, you get it by working for it, by selling something, or by winning it. □ [V n] I think every business's goal is to make money. □ [V n + out of/from ] Can it be moral to make so much money out of a commodity which is essential to life?
5 VERB If something makes something else, it is responsible for the success of that thing. □ [V n] What really makes the book are the beautiful designs.
6 N‑COUNT The make of something such as a car or radio is the name of the company that made it. □ …a certain make of wristwatch.
7 PHRASE If you say that someone is on the make , you disapprove of them because they are trying to get a lot of money or power, possibly by illegal or immoral methods. [DISAPPROVAL ]
➍ make ◆◆◆ /me I k/ (makes , making , made )
1 V‑LINK You can use make to say that someone or something has the right qualities for a particular task or role. For example, if you say that someone will make a good politician, you mean that they have the right qualities to be a good politician. □ [V n] You've a very good idea there. It will make a good book. □ [V n n] I'm very fond of Maurice and I'd make him a good partner.
2 V‑LINK If people make a particular pattern such as a line or a circle, they arrange themselves in this way. □ [V n] A group of people made a circle around the Pentagon.
3 V‑LINK You can use make to say what two numbers add up to. □ [V amount] Four twos make eight.
➎ make ◆◆◆ /me I k/ (makes , making , made )
1 VERB If someone makes a particular team or makes a particular high position, they do so well that they are put in that team or get that position. □ [V n] The athletes are just happy to make the British team. □ [V n] He knew he was never going to make director.
2 VERB If you make a place in or by a particular time, you get there in or by that time, often with some difficulty. □ [V n prep] They were trying to make New Orleans by nightfall.
3 PHRASE If you make it somewhere, you succeed in getting there, especially in time to do something. □ …the hostages who never made it home. □ I just made it!
4 PHRASE If you make it , you are successful in achieving something difficult, or in surviving through a very difficult period. □ I believe I have the talent to make it.
5 PHRASE If you cannot make it , you are unable to attend an event that you have been invited to. □ He hadn't been able to make it to our dinner.
➏ make ◆◆◆ /me I k/ (makes , making , made )
1 VERB You use make it when saying what you calculate or guess an amount to be. □ [V n] All I want to know is how many T-shirts Jim Martin has got. I make it three.
2 VERB You use make it when saying what time your watch says it is. □ [V n n] I make it nearly 9.30. □ [V n n] 'What time d'you make it?'—'Thirteen past.'
➐ make ◆◆◆ /me I k/ (makes , making , made )
▸ make for
1 PHRASAL VERB If you make for a place, you move towards it. □ [V P n] He rose from his seat and made for the door.
2 PHRASAL VERB If something makes for another thing, it causes or helps to cause that thing to happen or exist. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] A happy parent makes for a happy child.
▸ make of PHRASAL VERB If you ask a person what they make of something, you want to know what their impression, opinion, or understanding of it is. □ [V P n] Nancy wasn't sure what to make of Mick's apology.
▸ make off PHRASAL VERB If you make off , you leave somewhere as quickly as possible, often in order to escape. □ [V P ] They broke free and made off in a stolen car.