build usually contains the compile step depends on the language and context ofc. build usually invokes the dependency / configuration management as well before the compile step.

but as Hipkiss said you should be more specific with your questions since different people and different languages define the meaning of "build" differently.

"Build" can mean a lot of things, like:

• Compiling source code to byte code
• Transpilling high level code to a more low level language
• Raising and provisioning a machine to run your server
• etc.

So, based in what they all seem to have in common, I would define build as:

• A setup process before something can run properly