make

present singular third person makes · participle present making · participle past made · past made · dialectal obsolete participle past maked · dialectal obsolete past maked · first person past singular made · dialectal first person past singular maked · archaic present second person singular makest · past second person singular made · dialectal past second person singular maked · archaic past second person singular madest · present singular third person makes · archaic present singular third person maketh · past singular third person made · dialectal past singular third person maked

1. To create.
   1. transitiveTo build, construct, produce, or originate.

      He makes deodorants.

      5 more examples

      We made a bird feeder for our yard.

      I'll make a man out of him yet.

      Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.

      1892, Walter Besant, “Prologue: Who is Edmund Gray?”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC

      I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan.

      1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC

      Yet in “Through a Latte, Darkly”, a new study of how Starbucks has largely avoided paying tax in Britain, Edward Kleinbard[…]shows that current tax rules make it easy for all sorts of firms to generate what he calls “stateless income”:[…]. In Starbucks’s case, the firm has in effect turned the process of making an expensive cup of coffee into intellectual property.

      2013 June 22, “T time”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, archived from the original on 11 Mar 2023, page 68

      Synonyms: fabricate, artifice, assemble, betimber, build, build up, compile, construct

   2. transitiveTo write or compose.

      He made a will.

      1 more example

      I made a poem for her wedding.

   3. transitiveTo bring about; to effect or produce by means of some action.

      make war

      2 more examples

      They were just a bunch of ne'er-do-wells who went around making trouble for honest men.

      But whether or not the VCR makes a complete comeback, VHS enthusiasts agree that these tapes occupy an irreplaceable place in culture.

      2021 February 20, Hannah Selinger, “Who Is Still Buying VHS Tapes?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 28 Mar 2022

   4. transitivereligiousTo create (the universe), especially (in Christianity) from nothing.

      God made earth and heaven.

      1 more example

      Thine are these orbs of light and shade; ⁠Thou madest Life in man and brute; ⁠Thou madest Death; and lo, thy foot Is on the skull which thou hast made.

      1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Prologue”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC

   5. transitiveTo prepare (food); to cook (food).

      I'm making cereal for breakfast. Who wants some?

2. colloquialintransitiveTo behave, to act.

   To make like a deer caught in the headlights.

   2 more examples

   They made nice together, as if their fight never happened.

   He made as if to punch him, but they both laughed and shook hands.

3. intransitiveTo tend; to contribute; to have effect; with for or against.

   Considerations infinite Do make against it.

   c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

   2 more examples

   And all Israel's language about this power, except that it makes for righteousness, is approximate language

   1873, Matthew Arnold, Literature and Dogma

   Follow after the things which make for peace.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 14:19

4. To constitute.

   They make a cute couple.

   5 more examples

   This makes the third infraction.

   One swallow does not a summer make.

   We made an odd party before the arrival of the Ten, particularly when the Celebrity dropped in for lunch or dinner. He could not be induced to remain permanently at Mohair because Miss Trevor was at Asquith, but he appropriated a Hempstead cart from the Mohair stables and made the trip sometimes twice in a day.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

   Style alone does not make a writer.

   1995, Harriette Simpson Arnow: Critical Essays on Her Work, p.46

   So if your prospective school is proudly displaying that "We Are Outstanding" banner on its perimeter fence, well, that is wonderful … but do bear in mind that in all likelihood it has been awarded for results in those two subjects, rather than for its delivery of a broad and balanced curriculum which brings out the best in every child. Which is, of course, what makes a great primary school.

   2014 September 23, A teacher, “Choosing a primary school: a teacher's guide for parents”, in The Guardian

5. transitiveTo add up to, have a sum of.

   Two and four make six.

6. transitivetypically interrogativeTo interpret.

   What time do you make it?

   2 more examples

   I don’t know what to make of it.

   They couldn't make anything of the inscription.

7. stressedtransitiveusuallyTo bring into success.

   This company is what made you.

   3 more examples

   She married into wealth and so has it made.

   who makes or ruins with a smile or frown

   1667, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders, 1666. […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, (please specify the stanza number)

   A great expression and amazing eye contact, in particular, can make a photograph, and without them, you can end up with very little.

   2006, Michael Grecco, Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait, Amphoto Books, →ISBN, page 124

8. ditransitivesecond object is an adjective or participleTo cause to be.

   Did I make myself heard?

   5 more examples

   The blisters on my foot made it a problem to walk without a cane.

   Caesar made rich men of his supporters back in Rome.

   The citizens made their objections clear.

   This might make you a bit woozy.

   Scotch will make you a man.

   Synonyms: render

9. To cause to appear to be; to represent as.

   Homer makes Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus, unlike Hesiod who depicted her as born from the sea foam.

   2 more examples

   1709–1710, Thomas Baker, Reflections on Learning He is not that goose and Ass that Valla would make him.

   So this was my future home, I thought! Certainly it made a brave picture. I had seen similar ones fired-in on many a Heidelberg stein. Backed by towering hills,[…]a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.

   1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC

10. ditransitivesecond object is a verbTo cause (to do something); to compel (to do something).

    You're making her cry.

    2 more examples

    I was made to feel like a criminal.

    In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass.[…]Strangers might enter the room, but they were made to feel that they were there on sufferance: they were received with distance and suspicion.

    1892, Walter Besant, chapter III, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC

11. ditransitivesecond object is a verb; can be stressed for emphasis or clarity; second object is a verb; can be stressed for emphasis or clarityTo force to do.

    Don’t let them make you suffer.

    1 more example

    The teacher made the student study harder.

12. ditransitiveTo indicate or suggest to be.

    His past mistakes don’t make him a bad person.

13. transitiveTo cover neatly with bedclothes.
14. USslangtransitivecrimegovernmentTo recognise, identify, spot.

    I caught sight of him two or three times and then made him turning north into Laurel Canyon Drive.

    1939, Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep, Penguin, published 2011, page 33

    2 more examples

    Linus Caldwell: Well, she just made Danny and Yen, which means in the next 48 hours the three o' your pictures are gonna be in every police station in Europe.

    2004, George Nolfi et al., Ocean's Twelve, Warner Bros. Pictures, 0:50:30

    David Sinclair: (walking) Almost at Seventh; I should have a visual any second now. (rounds a corner, almost collides into Kaleed Asan) Damn, that was close. Don Eppes: David, he make you? David Sinclair: No, I don't think so.

    2007 May 4, Andrew Dettmann et al., "Under Pressure", episode 3-22 of Numb3rs, 00:01:16

    Synonyms: twig, notice, clock, ID, identify, ken, to make someone, notice

15. colloquialtransitiveTo arrive at a destination, usually at or by a certain time.

    We should make Cincinnati by 7 tonight.

    2 more examples

    I won't be able to make dinner; something's come up at work.

    They that sail in the middle can make no land of either side.

    1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC

16. colloquialintransitiveTo proceed (in a direction).

    Make for the hills! It's a wildfire!

    3 more examples

    They made westward over the snowy mountains.

    They made away from the fire toward the river.

    As the guard's whistle shrilled the "right away," I made to join my companions in the train, but with a smile the driver, whose name was Abdul, bade me take the fireman's seat.

    1942 July-August, Philip Spencer, “On the Footplate in Egypt”, in Railway Magazine, page 208

17. transitiveTo cover (a given distance) by travelling.First known use 16ᵗʰc.

    I made over twenty miles that day, for I was now hardened to fatigue and accustomed to long hikes, having spent considerable time hunting and exploring in the immediate vicinity of camp.

    1918 September–November, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Land That Time Forgot”, in The Blue Book Magazine, Chicago, Ill.: Story-press Corp., →OCLC; republished as chapter VIII, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, (please specify |part=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Experimenter Publishing, 1927, →OCLC

    1 more example

    I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town. I was completely mystified at such an unusual proceeding.

    1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

18. transitiveTo move at (a speed).First known use 17ᵗʰc.

    This baby can make 220 miles an hour.

    1 more example

    The ship could make 20 knots an hour in calm seas.

19. To appoint; to name.

    On November 15, 1396,[…]Benedict XIII made him bishop of Noyon;

    1991, Bernard Guenée, Between Church and State: The Lives of Four French Prelates, →ISBN

20. slangtransitiveTo induct into the Mafia or a similar organization (as a made man).

    Jimmy Conway: They're gonna make him. Henry Hill: Paulie's gonna make you?

    1990, Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese, Goodfellas

21. colloquialeuphemisticintransitiveTo defecate or urinate.

    When my father comes back with a dark wet spot on his pants, right in front, as if he has made in his pants, he starts eating his food in great shovelfuls.

    1992, Merrill Joan Gerber, The kingdom of Brooklyn, page 30

    1 more example

    "He made in his pants, okay? I hope everybody's satisfied!" She flung her hat on the floor and kicked it. "He'll never come back to school now! Never! And it's all your fault!

    2003, Mary Anne Kelly, The Cordelia Squad, page 121

22. transitiveTo earn, to gain (money, points, membership or status).

    She made ten points in that game.

    5 more examples

    They hope to make a bigger profit.

    He didn't make the choir after his voice changed.

    Wales' defence had an unfamiliar look with Cardiff youngster Darcy Blake preferred to 44-cap Danny Gabbidon of Queen's Park Rangers, who did not even make the bench.

    2011 September 2, “Wales 2-1 Montenegro”, in BBC

    Bart spies an opportunity to make a quick buck so he channels his inner carny and posits his sinking house as a natural wonder of the world and its inhabitants as freaks, barking to dazzled spectators, “Behold the horrors of the Slanty Shanty! See the twisted creatures that dwell within! Meet Cue-Ball, the man with no hair!”

    2012 May 20, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: The Simpsons (classic): “Marge Gets A Job” (season 4, episode 7; originally aired 11/05/1992)”, in The Onion AV Club

    I lived in tiny apartments with rotating roommates, paying rent wildly disproportionate to what I made.

    2026 April 22, Jillian Sanders, “The Danger of Surrendering Your Financial Independence in a Relationship”, in TIME, archived from the original on 22 Apr 2026

23. transitiveTo achieve coverage in; to appear in.

    The Brexit results made the front page for both second editions, below the fold.

    2016 June 24, Stephen Hiltner, “How the ‘Brexit’ News Made the Front Page”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 Jun 2016

    3 more examples

    The special classes seemed to help because, Mrs. Zinmer recalled with some pride, in the seventh grade he made the honor roll.

    1977 July 9, William Robbins, “Mother Recalls Anger and Conflict of Boy Held in Fire Fatal to 42”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 20 Feb 2018

    Ordinary New York kinds of things happened to him. He was mugged in Central Park. Somebody stole his sport utility vehicle. Strangers talked to him on the subway. A friend of a friend got him Yankees tickets. But when it happened to Kennedy, it made the papers. He was public property for years: the tabloids long ago baptised him a Page One "Hunk."

    1999 July 23, Susan Sachs, “New Yorkers Fondly Recall a 'Regular Guy' Who Fascinated Them”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 Jul 2026

    He said the database was created using very conservative standards. Inclusion on a credit agency watch list was not enough to make the list, he said. For example, Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, a complex of 110 rent-regulated buildings in Manhattan that Tishman Speyer Properties and BlackRock Realty bought in 2006 for $5.4 billion, is not listed as potentially troubled, […]

    2008 December 17, Terry Pristin, “A List a Landlord Doesn’t Want to Be On”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 Jul 2026

24. transitiveTo pay, to cover (an expense); chiefly used after expressions of inability.

    At first glance, you may be able to make rent and other overhead expenses because the business is doing well, but if sales drop can you still make rent?

    2005, Yuvi Shmul, Ron Peltier, Make It Big with Yuvi: How to Buy Or Start a Small Business, the Best Investment, AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 67

    2 more examples

    Whether, […], the construction of additional roads […] would present a case in which the exaction of prohibitory or otherwise onerous rates may be prevented, though it result in an impossibility for some or all of the roads to make expenses, we need not say; no such case is before us.

    1889 May 1, Chief Justice George P. Raney, Pensacola & A. R. Co. v. State of Florida (judicial opinion), reproduced in The Southern Reporter, Volume 5, West Publishing Company, p.843

    So you can’t make payroll. This happens.[…]many business owners who have never confronted it before will be forced to deal with this most difficult matter of not making payroll.

    2011, Donald Todrin, Successfully Navigating the Downturn, Entrepreneur Press, →ISBN, page 194

25. intransitiveobsoleteTo compose verses; to write poetry; to versify.

    ca.1360-1387, William Langland, Piers Plowman to solace him some time, as I do when I make

26. To enact; to establish.

    Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

    1791, The First Amendment to the United States Constitution

27. To develop into; to prove to be.

    She'll make a fine president.

    1 more example

    Classical literature usually makes heavy reading.

28. AppalachiaTo study or train so as to become (a profession); to grow up to be (something).

    He'll make a doctor one day.

29. To form or formulate in the mind.

    make plans

    1 more example

    made a questionable decision

30. To perform a feat.

    make a leap

    3 more examples

    make a pass

    make a u-turn

    Say, you know? I knew I should have made a left toin at Albuquerque.

    1945 January 13, Herr Meets Hare, spoken by Bugs Bunny

31. intransitiveTo gain sufficient audience to warrant its existence.

    In the end, my class didn't make, which left me with a bit of free time.

32. obsoleteTo act in a certain manner; to have to do; to manage; to interfere; to be active; often in the phrase to meddle or make.

    a scurvy, jack-a-nape priest to meddle or make

    c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]

33. obsoleteTo increase; to augment; to accrue.
34. obsoleteTo be engaged or concerned in.

    Gomez, what makest thou here, with a whole brotherhood of city bailiffs?

    1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page number)

35. archaicTo cause to be (in a specified place), used after a subjective what.

    Footman. Madam! Mr. Dorimant! Lov. What makes him here?

    1676, George Etherege, The Man of Mode

    1 more example

    What makes her in the wood so late, A furlong from the castle gate?

    1816, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Christabel

36. euphemistictransitiveTo take the virginity of.

    I was a young un at 'Oogli, Shy as a girl to begin; Aggie de Castrer she made me, — An' Aggie was clever as sin; Older than me, but my first un — More like a mother she were Showed me the way to promotion an' pay, An' I learned about women from 'er!

    1896, Rudyard Kipling, The Ladies

37. transitiveTo have sexual intercourse with.

    The only thing she wants to make is you!

    1979, Mark Tuttle, “The Loan Shark”, in Three's Company, season 4, episode 10 (television production)

    4 more examples

    He could see that her face was thin, proud. She looked like she'd be a hard dame to make. He didn't want just that. She'd be a hard dame to win.

    1934, James T. Farrell, chapter 16, in The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan

    The boys in the lower classes who had already dropped out of school derived much of their prestige among their peers from their skill in “making” girls.

    1959, Vance Packard, The Status Seekers, Pocket Books, published 1971, →ISBN, page 138

    And I'm trying to make some girl / Who tells me, "Baby, better come back, maybe next week" / "'Cause you see, I'm on a losing streak"

    1965 June 4, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, “(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction”, performed by the Rolling Stones

    Monday night, I'm makin' Jen Tuesday night, I'm makin' Lyn Wednesday night, I'm makin' Catherine Oh, why can't I be makin' love come true?

    1996, Rivers Cuomo, “Tired of Sex”, in Pinkerton, performed by Weezer

    Synonyms: Formal terms, bed, coit, coitize, dight, enjoy, feague, go in unto

38. intransitiveOf water, to flow toward land; to rise.

    The flood had made, the wind was nearly calm, and being bound down the river, the only thing for us was to come to and wait for the turn of the tide.

    1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 193

39. transitivebackgammonTo establish two or more men on (a point) so that it cannot be captured.

plural makes · alternative Durham Wearside dialectal mak · alternative pronunciation spelling makee · alternative Geordie dialectal myek

1. Brand; marque; manufacturer; maker.

   Near-synonyms: kind, type

   2 more examples

   we service all makes and models

   Q: What make and model of car do you drive? A: It's a Buick LaCrosse.

   Synonyms: kind, type

2. Manner or style of construction (style of how a thing is made).

   Near-synonyms: makeup, form, conformation, composition; form factor

   1 more example

   I can name the tribe every moccasin belongs to by the make of it.

   1907, Mark Twain, A Horse's Tale

   Synonyms: makeup, form, conformation, composition, form factor

3. Origin (of a manufactured article); manufacture; production.

   The camera was of German make.

   3 more examples

   The cane was undoubtedly of foreign make, for it had a solid silver ferrule at one end, which was not English hall–marked.

   1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Ayrsham Mystery”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020

   The Royal Typewriter Company is distributing a very attractive eight page folder, announcing the Royal Number 10, the first machine of Royal make which uses levers instead of wires to operate the type-bars.

   1914, Judicious Advertising, page 158

   The camera was of recent make.

4. A person's character or disposition.

   I never feel very much excited about any old thing; it's not my make; but I've got a sort of shiver inside of me, and a watery feeling in the heart region.

   1914, Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton, Perch of the Devil, page 274

5. datedThe act or process of making something, especially in industrial manufacturing.

   […] papers are respectively of second or inferior quality, the last being perhaps torn or broken in the "make" — as the manufacture is technically termed.

   1908, Charles Thomas Jacobi, Printing: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Typography as Applied More Particularly to the Printing of Books, page 331

   Synonyms: making, manufacture, manufacturing, production

6. uncountableQuantity produced, especially of materials.

   In 1880 the make of pig iron in all countries was 18,300,000 tons.

   1902 September 16, “German Iron and Steel Production”, in The New York Times, page 8

   Synonyms: production, output

7. computingA software utility for automatically building large applications, or an implementation of this utility.

   However, the unzip and make programs weren't found, so the default was left blank.

   2003, D. Curtis Jamison, Perl Programming for Biologists, →ISBN, page 115

8. slangIdentification: recognition (of identity), especially from police records or evidence.

   "They ever get a make on the blood type?" Horn asked, staring at the stained mattress.

   2003, John Lutz, The Night Spider, →ISBN, page 53

   3 more examples

   "I'm sure we'll get a make on the suspect's prints by day break, so if you come down town, I'll see you get everything available. Go ahead and process the car, we won't have any need of it."

   2003, Harlan Wygant, The Samurai Conspiracy: A Story of Revenge by the Author of "The Junkyard Dog.", →ISBN, page 36

   He got out his binoculars, trying for a make on the plate, but the plate light was conveniently not working. The windows must have been tinted, because he could not see inside the van, either.

   2007, P. T. Deutermann, Hunting Season: A Novel, St. Martin's Press, →ISBN

   “Okay, if I could understand correctly what Oscar was saying through all the doubletalk, we've got a make on the bigwig occupant of the convoy ahead. Chaim Lieberman, Israeli Ambassador to the United States.” “Shit,” said Gardner.

   2008, H.A. Covington, The Brigade, →ISBN, page 660

   Synonyms: ID

9. slanggovernmentA promotion.

   Sent back the list of makes with only Post and Hamilton on it. (Buckner had recommended 10 staff officers and 1 combat soldier!)

   2004, Joseph Stilwell, Seven Stars: The Okinawa Battle Diaries of Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. and Joseph Stilwell, →ISBN, page 94

10. A homemade project, particularly one demonstrated on television.

    Blue Peter "make"

    1978, Biddy Baxter, Hazel Gill, Margaret Parnell, Rachel Barnes, Kate Pountney, The 'Blue Peter' Make, Cook & Look Book, page i

11. card gamesTurn to declare the trump for a hand (in bridge), or to shuffle the cards.

    It's your make as the cards lie. Take your time.

    1925, Robert William Chambers, The Talkers, page 195

    1 more example

    'Not your make,' said the adjutant sternly and started dealing the cards with his white be-ringed hands as though he was in haste to get rid of them.

    1962 (edition), Leo Tolstoy, Hadji Murat: A Tale of the Caucasus

12. ball gamesA made basket.
13. natural sciencesThe closing of an electrical circuit.

    If the interrupter operated every 2 sec., the current would rise to 10 amp. and drop to zero with successive "makes" and "breaks."

    1947, Charles Seymour Siskind, Electricity, page 94

    Synonyms: completion, actuation · Antonyms: break

plural makes

1. slangusually in phrase "easy make"Past, present, or future target of seduction (usually female).

   To me, if I weren't going with someone and was taking pills, it would be like advertising that I'm an easy make.

   2007, Prudence Mors Rains, Becoming an Unwed Mother, →ISBN, page 26

   1 more example

   She's your make, not mine. […] It isn't anything short of difficult to entertain someone else's pregnant fiancee.

   1962, Ralph Moreno, A Man's Estate, page 12

2. UKdialectalMate; a spouse or companion; a match.

   Every cake hath its make; but a scrape cake hath two.

   1678 (later reprinted: 1855), John Ray, A Hand-book of Proverbs

   3 more examples

   Th'Elfe therewith astownd, Vpstarted lightly from his looser make, And his vnready weapons gan in hand to take.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   Where their maids and their makes At dancing and wakes, Had their napkins and posies And the wipers for their noses

   1624, Ben Jonson, The Masque of Owls at Kenilworth

   But then sometimes I thought, it's a black Crake That never to her-sell can get a Make.

   1684, Meriton, Praise Ale

plural makes · alternative Scotland meck

1. IrelandNorthern EnglandScotlandarchaicA halfpenny.First known use 16th c.

   the last we shall have, I take it; for a make to a million, but we trine to the nubbing cheat to-morrow.

   1826, Sir Walter Scott, Woodstock; Or, the Cavalier

   1 more example

   Only as he climbed the steps did he mind that he hadn't even a meck upon him, and turned to jump off as the tram with a showd swung grinding down to the Harbour […]

   1934, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Grey Granite, Polygon 2006 (A Scots Quair), page 606

plural makes

1. East AngliaEssexobsoleteAn agricultural tool resembling a scythe, used to cut (harvest) certain plants such as peas, reeds, or tares.

   Harvest. Taken up by a pease-make, and left in small heaps, and turned as often as the weather may make it necessary.

   1811, William Gooch, General view of the agriculture of the county of Cambridge; drawn up for the consideration of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement, page 142, section VI "Pease"

   1 more example

   Harvest.—When left for seed, they are cut and wadded as pease, with a make. Produce.—From three to six sacks an acre.

   1797, Arthur Young, General View of the Agriculture of the County of Suffolk: Drawn Up for the Consideration of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement, page 73