warm up

/ˌwɔrm əp/

/wɔm əp/

Other forms: warmed up; warming up; warms up

When you warm up, you get ready to do something, like run around or sing a few notes before a game or a concert. To warm up is to literally make something warmer, so you can also warm up your soup.

You can warm up beside a cozy fire after skiing, or warm up in your chilly house with a mug of hot tea. Or, warm up your car by running the engine for a while before you drive. If you’re shy, it might take you a little while to warm up to people. A band warms up by playing parts of songs and tuning their instruments, and an athlete might warm up with an easy jog and some stretching.

Definitions of warm up

1. verb

   get warm or warmer
   synonyms: warm

   type of:

   change

   undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature
2. verb

   cause to do preliminary exercises so as to stretch the muscles
   “The coach warmed up the players before the game”

   types:

   limber

   cause to become limber

   type of:

   exercise, work, work out

   give a workout to

   put to work, work

   cause to work
3. verb

   make one's body limber or suppler by stretching, as if to prepare for strenuous physical activity
   synonyms: limber up, loosen up

   type of:

   exercise, work out

   do physical exercise
4. verb

   run until the normal working temperature is reached
   “We warmed up the car for a few minutes”

   type of:

   operate, run

   direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.
5. verb

   become more friendly or open
   “She warmed up after we had lunch together”

   type of:

   change

   undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature