warm up

/wɔːrm ʌp/◆phrasal verb

prepare for activity

The athletes warmed up before the race.

They did light exercises to get ready.

informal

To prepare for physical activity by doing light exercises

She warmed up with some stretching before her yoga class.

She did stretching exercises to prepare her body.

Common in sports and fitness contexts.

informal

To make something more lively or active

The band warmed up the crowd with a few songs.

They played some songs to get the audience excited.

Used metaphorically for increasing energy or enthusiasm.

Engineering

technical

To gradually increase temperature

The engineer warmed up the engine before starting the test.

He gradually increased the engine's temperature.

Used in mechanical and technical contexts.

Collocations

warm up toto gradually become friendly with someonewarm up the crowdto excite or energize an audience

to gradually become friendly with someone

Note that 'warm up' can mean both physical preparation and metaphorical activation of energy.

The meaning depends heavily on the context—sports, music, or mechanical.

From 'warm' (to make or become warm) + 'up' (directional particle).

Commonly used in sports, music, and mechanical contexts. The phrasal verb 'warm up to' has a distinct meaning of becoming more friendly.

warm

to make or become warm

root

directional particle indicating preparation or increase

particle

English Dictionary