/air"lift'/ , n. Also, air lift .
1. a system for transporting persons or cargo by aircraft, esp. in an emergency.
2. the persons or cargo so transported.
3. the act or process of transporting such a load.
4. a pump for raising liquids by the pressure of air forced into the pump chamber.
v.t.
5. to transport (persons or cargo) by airlift.
adj.
6. of or pertaining to an airlift or airlifts: to increase the army's airlift capacity.
[ 1940-45; AIR 1 + LIFT ]