–Make up | Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik
Context
NatureThe first images from the Euclid space telescope have been released. Euclid was launched in July 2023 by the European Space Agency (ESA) and was built to study and understand the greatest mysteries of the universe — dark matter and dark energy. These two strange parts of the universe are invisible and nearly undetectable. More is unknown about them than is known, but roughly 68% of the universe is dark energy, while dark matter makes up around 27%.
Explanations and Usages
The term “make up,” in this context, means the process of constituting or creating something. It is used to describe the composition or formation of a particular entity. In simpler terms, when we say that something “makes up” a certain percentage, we are referring to the contribution or composition of that element within a larger whole.
The phrase is used in the context of dark matter and dark energy making up a significant portion of the universe. Here, “make up” indicates the proportion or composition of these mysterious elements within the entirety of the universe.
To further explain, imagine the universe as a whole, and within this vast expanse, there are certain components—dark matter and dark energy. The phrase “make up” is telling us how much of the universe is formed or composed of these invisible and mysterious entities. In this case, approximately 68% of the universe is composed of dark energy, while dark matter is around 27%.
So, when you use the phrase “make up” in such a context, it essentially means to contribute to the composition or formation of a larger entity, providing insight into the proportion or percentage of that particular component within the whole.
Examples
- Students like Emma, Liam, and Olivia make up the class, each student being a part of the whole group.
- In international educational environments, students from diverse backgrounds and unique perspectives come together, each contributing their individual qualities to make up the class, thereby creating a dynamic and enriching learning community.
–Education
- Business with China has long made up a sizable portion of their sales.
- Women, who started working more in the 1980s, are now some of Birkenstocks’ biggest fans, making up 72 percent of the loyal customers because they really like the practicality and comfort the brand offers.
–Business
- Those chemical fibers typically make up half or more of the material.
In 2020, Facebook created a board made up of former political leaders and human rights activists to decide on the content choices of the company, aiming to ensure thoughtful and fair decisions.
–Technology
- Our star, the Sun, is made up of hot ionized gas known as plasma.
It has taken 10 years to undertake the project of constructing the chromosome, and the DNA sequence created is made up of approximately 660,000 base pairs, which serve as the ‘letters’ forming the DNA code.
–Science
- People of color make up 32 percent of those positions, showing a significant increase from the 16 percent a decade earlier.
In orchestras nationwide, women now make up roughly half of the players, yet in many prestigious ensembles such as those in Boston, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, they still make up a smaller proportion compared to men.
–Arts and Culture
