lift

¹lift

noun \ˈlift\

Definition of LIFT

chiefly Scottish

: heavens, sky

Origin of LIFT

Middle English, from Old English lyft

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with LIFT

drift, gift, grift, rift, shift, shrift, sift, squiffed, swift, thrift

²lift

verb

Definition of LIFT

transitive verb

1

a : to raise from a lower to a higher position : elevate

b : to raise in rank or condition

c : to raise in rate or amount

2

: to put an end to (a blockade or siege) by withdrawing or causing the withdrawal of investing forces

3

: revoke, rescind <lift an embargo>

4

a : steal <had her purse lifted>

b : plagiarize

c : to take out of normal setting <lift a word out of context>

5

: to take up (as a root crop or transplants) from the ground

6

: to pay off (an obligation) <lift a mortgage>

7

: to move from one place to another (as by aircraft) : transport

8

: to take up (a fingerprint) from a surface

intransitive verb

1

a : ascend, rise <the rocket lifted off>

b : to appear elevated (as above surrounding objects)

2

of inclement weather : to dissipate and clear

— lift·able \ˈlif-tə-bəl\ adjective

— lift·er noun

Examples of LIFT

1. The paramedics lifted the stretcher into the ambulance.
2. lift a bucket of water
3. He lifted his foot from the gas pedal.
4. He lifted his pen from the paper.
5. She lifted her hands to the sky.
6. The story lifted him to national recognition.

Origin of LIFT

Middle English, from Old Norse lypta; akin to Old English lyft air — more at loft

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to LIFT

Synonyms

boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), raise, perk (up), pick up, take up, up, uphold, uplift, upraise

Antonyms

drop, lower

Related Words

ascend, mount, rise; rear, upend

Near Antonyms

descend, dip, fall, pitch, plunge, slip; bear, depress, press, push; sink, submerge

Synonym Discussion of LIFT

lift, raise, rear, elevate, hoist, heave, boost mean to move from a lower to a higher place or position. lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight <lift the chair while I vacuum>. raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position <scouts raising a flagpole>. rear may add an element of suddenness to raise <suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs>. elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied <elevated the taste of the public>. hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means <hoisted the cargo on board>. heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain <heaved the heavy crate inside>. boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push <boosted his brother over the fence>.

³lift

noun

Definition of LIFT

1

: the amount that may be lifted at one time : load

2

a : the action or an instance of lifting

b : the action or an instance of rising

c : elevated carriage (as of a body part)

d : the lifting up (as of a dancer) usually by a partner

3

: a device (as a handle or latch) for lifting

4

: an act of stealing : theft

5

a : assistance, help

b : a ride especially along one's way

6

: a layer in the heel of a shoe

7

: a rise or advance in position or condition

8

: a slight rise or elevation

9

: the distance or extent to which something rises

10

: an apparatus or machine used for hoisting: as

a : a set of pumps used in a mine

b chiefly British : elevator 1b

c : an apparatus for raising an automobile (as for repair)

d : ski lift

11

a : an elevating influence

b : an elevation of the spirit

12

a : the component of the total aerodynamic force acting on an airplane or airfoil that is perpendicular to the relative wind and that for an airplane constitutes the upward force that opposes the pull of gravity

b : an updraft that can be used to increase altitude (as of a sailplane)

13

: an organized movement of people, equipment, or supplies by some form of transportation; especially : airlift

First Known Use of LIFT

14th century

lift

noun \ˈlift\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of LIFT

1

: face-lift

2

: breast lift

—lift transitive verb

lift

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Upward-acting force on an aircraft wing or airfoil. An aircraft in flight experiences an upward lift force, as well as the thrust of the engine, the force of its own weight, and a drag force. The lift force arises because the speed at which the displaced air moves over the top of the airfoil (and over the top of the attached boundary layer) is greater than the speed at which it moves over the bottom and because the pressure acting on the airfoil from below is therefore greater than the pressure from above.