prefix in senses of *up, added: 1 as an adverb to verbs and verbal derivations, = ‘upwards’ (upcurved; update).

- as a preposition to nouns forming adverbs and adjectives (up-country; uphill).

- as an adjective to nouns (upland; up-stroke).

- —adv. - at, in, or towards a higher place or a place regarded as higher, e.g. The north, a capital or a university (up in the air; up in scotland; went up to london; came up in 1989).

- a to or in an erect or required position or condition (stood it up; wound up the watch). B in or into an active condition (stirred up trouble; the hunt is up).

- in a stronger or leading position (three goals up; am £10 up; is well up in class).

- to a specified place, person, or time (a child came up to me; fine up till now).

- higher in price or value (our costs are up; shares are up).

- a completely (burn up; eat up). B more loudly or clearly (speak up).

- completed (time is up).

- into a compact, accumulated, or secure state (pack up; save up; tie up).

- out of bed, having risen (are you up yet?; sun is up). 10 happening, esp. Unusually (something is up). 11 (usu. Foll. By before) appearing for trial etc. (up before the magistrate). 12 (of a road etc.) Being repaired. 13 (of a jockey) in the saddle. —prep. - upwards and along, through, or into (climbed up the ladder; went up the road).

- from the bottom to the top of.

- a at or in a higher part of (is up the street). B towards the source of (a river). —adj. - directed upwards (up stroke).

- of travel towards a capital or centre (the up train). —n. Spell of good fortune. —v. (-pp-) 1 colloq. Start, esp. Abruptly, to speak or act (upped and hit him).

- raise (upped their prices). be all up with be hopeless for (a person). On the up (or up and up) colloq. Steadily improving. Up against 1 close to.

- in or into contact with.

- colloq. Confronted with (a problem etc.).