The word makeup has two main meanings:

1. Cosmetics applied to the face to enhance or change appearance. Makeup includes products like lipstick, eyeshadow, foundation, and blush. Actors wear heavy stage makeup so audiences can see their features from far away. Some people wear makeup daily, while others save it for special occasions or don't wear it at all.
2. The combination of qualities or elements that form something's character or composition. When we talk about a person's makeup, we mean the traits and characteristics that make them who they are: their personality, temperament, and nature. A teacher might say, “Curiosity is part of her makeup,” meaning curiosity is built into who that person is. Scientists study the chemical makeup of substances to understand what they're made of. A team's makeup refers to the particular mix of players and their different strengths.

The word can also mean a test or assignment you complete after missing the original one: “I have to take a makeup test tomorrow because I was sick last week.”