a person or company whose job is to construct or repair buildings, roads, or other structures
The builder showed us the plans for our new kitchen extension.
After the storm, several builders repaired the damaged roof.
✦ From Old English ‘byldan’ meaning ‘to build’, influenced by Old Norse ‘byggja’.
a chemical added to detergents or soaps to improve cleaning power, especially by softening hard water
This detergent contains a phosphate builder that softens hard water.
Removing the builder from laundry powder reduced its effectiveness.
✦ Sense developed in the mid-20th century, figuratively extending the idea of “building” cleaning power.
