Fabricate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fabricated; p. pr. & vb. n. Fabricating.]
Etymology: [L. fabricatus, p.p. of fabricari, fabricare, to frame, build, forge, fr. fabrica. See Fabric, Farge.]
1. To form into a whole by uniting its parts; to frame; to construct; to build; as, to fabricate a bridge or ship.
2. To form by art and labor; to manufacture; to produce; as, to fabricate woolens.
3. To invent and form; to forge; to devise falsely; as, to fabricate a lie or story. Our books were not fabricated with an accomodation to prevailing usages. Paley.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for fabricate; he lists it under make.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.