makeups

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of makeup.

   Theatrical makeups vary widely from one production to the next.

   The artist's kit held a dozen makeups in different shades and finishes.

   Note

   A plural that most meanings of makeup seldom need, because the noun usually works as a mass noun. When the plural does appear, it counts kinds or instances. It can mean separate cosmetic products or shades in a kit, the differing compositions of several things, or several tests that let students repeat failed material. In trust accounting, makeups are the catch-up amounts a NIMCRUT pays out of later income.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present indicative of makeup. Nonstandard; the usual form is makes up.

   Note

   Here the closed spelling works as a verb. It is an alternative form of the phrasal verb make up, but only in its cosmetic meaning. It can take an object (she makeups the guests) or stand without one (he makeups before every show). The two-word makes up is the standard choice. Because the closed form looks exactly like the plural noun, the rest of the sentence has to show that it is a verb.

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