ENGLISH
REFERENCE

makeup

n. uncountable
A2 Elementary US //ˈmeɪˌkəp// UK //mˈeɪkʌp// make·up

n. colored creams or powders that you put on your face to change how you look. People use it to hide marks or to look more attractive.

n. cosmetic substances applied to the face or body to enhance or alter the appearance. Often used as a collective noun for products like lipstick, foundation, and mascara.


SIMPLE

She puts on her makeup every morning before work.

CONTEXTUAL

The theater actors spent two hours in the dressing room applying heavy stage makeup for the performance.

COMPLEX

While professional makeup can subtly enhance natural features for the camera, excessive application under harsh studio lighting often results in an unnatural, mask-like effect.

Synonyms
Origin

Deverbal from make up. Noun sense 2 is a semantic loan from French maquillage, from maquiller (“to make up, fabricate”).

Pitfall

She is wearing many makeupsShe is wearing a lot of makeupIn the cosmetic sense, makeup is uncountable and does not take a plural form.

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