push-up

• pushup

Deverbal from push up.

• IPA^(key): /ˈpʊʃˌʌp/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

push-up (not comparable)

1. (fashion) Supporting the breasts to increase their apparent size.
   • 2008, Women's Health, page 141:

     Talk about lucky stripes: This push-up top features pads to provide oomph and make sure the girls stay sunny-side up.

   • 2011, Laura Resnick, Vamparazzi: Book Four of Esther Diamond, Penguin, →ISBN:

     I paused to say, “Good,” then returned to breathing and vocalizing while I repeatedly bent over, stretched, and rolled up slowly, warming up my spine—and ignoring the way the wires of my push-up corset poked and squeezed me.

   • 2015, Robin Kirman, Bradstreet Gate: A Novel, Crown, →ISBN:

     In the sharper light of his hotel room, the woman's skin looked overpowdered; her bra was push-up, a pendant nestled in the cleavage.

2. (fashion) Designed to be worn rolled up.
   • 1952, Jet, page 41:

     Season's most popular blouses feature push-up sleeves, little- boy collars, dainty ties.

   • 1971, Ebony, page 121:

     These intriguing outfits feature harem pants with long draped front-panel belts, slinky, sleeveless coats, flowing dresses that cling, trousers with push-up legs and deep-cut pants that reveal a whole lot of slim, smooth belly- button and all!

   • 1992, The American Legion:

     A lovely body-skimming blouson with flattering full sleeves and wide push-up cuffs.

Animation of a full push-up

push-up (plural push-ups)

1. An exercise done to improve upper body strength, performed by resting on one's toes and hands and pushing one's weight off the floor.

   Synonym: (chiefly UK) press-up

   • 2008, Lou Schuler, "Foreward", in Nate Green, Built for Show, page xii

     I did lots of push-ups and pull-ups, and my only regret is that I stopped doing them as a young adult when I finally got to work out in health clubs instead of my basement or garage.

2. A push-up bra.
   • 2004, Katie Meier, A Girl's Guide to Life, page 93:

     Push-ups give girls with smaller breasts an extra bit of lift and shape.

push-up (third-person singular simple present push-ups, present participle push-upping, simple past and past participle push-upped)

1. To perform a push-up, or to lift oneself off the ground in a push-up-like manner.
   • 2006, Suzanne Brockmann, Into the Storm, page 154:

     Jenk kept off to the side, but joined the class as they started their push-ups. […] Jenk push-upped, eyes on the ground.