Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To prepare one's body for physical exercise or activity by doing gentle movements or stretches.
   • To become more friendly, relaxed, or enthusiastic.
   • To become warmer in temperature.
   • (Of a machine or engine) To reach its normal operating temperature by running for a short time.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To prepare someone or something for a main activity by doing preliminary exercises or actions.
   • To make something warmer in temperature.

Usage and Examples

• Intransitive Verb:

  • The runners need to warm up before the race. (They are preparing their bodies.)
  • It took her a while to warm up to the new colleagues. (She became more friendly.)
  • The room will warm up once we turn on the heater. (It will become warmer.)
  • Let the engine warm up for a minute before you drive. (Let it reach operating temperature.)

• Transitive Verb:

  • The coach warmed up the team with some drills. (The coach prepared the team.)
  • Can you warm up this soup for me? (Can you make the soup hotter?)

Advanced Usage

• "warm up the audience": To make an audience more receptive or enthusiastic before a main performance.

  • The comedian told a few jokes to warm up the audience before the main act.

• "warm-up" (as a noun): The act of warming up or a period of gentle exercise.

  • She did a 10-minute warm-up before her workout.

Variants and Related Words

• Warm-up (noun/adjective): Refers to the preparatory activity or the period itself.

  • The warm-up exercises are essential. (adjective)
  • The band's set was just a warm-up for the headliner. (noun)

• Warmed-up (adjective): Describes something that has been made warm or prepared.

  • Serve the food warmed-up.

Synonyms

• Heat up: To make something hotter (for the temperature sense).
• Loosen up: To prepare muscles through stretching (for the exercise sense).
• Thaw: To become more friendly or relaxed.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Warm to (someone/something): To begin to like or enjoy someone or something more.
  • I didn't like the idea at first, but I'm starting to warm to it.

Related Idioms

• Warm the cockles of one's heart: To give someone a feeling of contentment or happiness.
  • That generous donation really warmed the cockles of my heart.

Verb

1. make one's body limber or suppler by stretching, as if to prepare for strenuous physical activity
2. cause to do preliminary exercises so as to stretch the muscles
   • The coach warmed up the players before the game
3. get warm or warmer
   • The soup warmed slowly on the stove
4. become more friendly or open
   • She warmed up after we had lunch together
5. run until the normal working temperature is reached
   • We warmed up the car for a few minutes