(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ something, you move it to another position, especially upwards.
The Colonel ~ed the phone and dialed his superior...
She ~ed the last of her drink to her lips.
VERB: V n, V n prep/adv
•
Lift up means the same as ~ .
She put her arms around him and ~ed him up...
Curious shoppers ~ed up their children to take a closer look at the parade.
PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V P n (not pron)
2.
If you ~ a part of your body, you move it to a higher position.
Amy ~ed her arm to wave. ‘Goodbye,’ she called...
She ~ed her foot and squashed the wasp into the ground.
= raise
VERB: V n, V n
•
Lift up means the same as ~ .
Tom took his seat again and ~ed his feet up on to the railing...
The boys ~ed up their legs, indicating they wanted to climb in.
PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V P n (not pron)
3.
If you ~ your eyes or your head, you look up, for example when you have been reading and someone comes into the room.
When he finished he ~ed his eyes and looked out the window.
= raise
VERB: V n
4.
If people in authority ~ a law or rule that prevents people from doing something, they end it.
The European Commission has urged France to ~ its ban on imports of British beef.
VERB: V n
5.
If something ~s your spirits or your mood, or if they ~, you start feeling more cheerful.
He used his incredible sense of humour to ~ my spirits...
As soon as she heard the telephone ring her spirits ~ed.
VERB: V n, V
6.
If something gives you a ~, it gives you a feeling of greater confidence, energy, or enthusiasm. (INFORMAL)
My selection for the team has given me a tremendous ~.
= boost
N-SING: usu a N
7.
A ~ is a device that carries people or goods up and down inside tall buildings. (BRIT; in AM, use elevator )
They took the ~ to the fourth floor.
N-COUNT
8.
If you give someone a ~ somewhere, you take them there in your car as a favour to them.
He had a car and often gave me a ~ home.
= ride
N-COUNT
9.
If a government or organization ~s people or goods in or out of an area, it transports them there by aircraft, especially when there is a war.
The army ~ed people off rooftops where they had climbed to escape the flooding...
= fly
VERB: V n prep/adv
10.
To ~ something means to increase its amount or to increase the level or the rate at which it happens.
The bank ~ed its basic home loans rate to 10.99% from 10.75%...
A barrage would halt the flow upstream and ~ the water level.
= increase
VERB: V n to/from/by amount, V n
11.
If fog, cloud, or mist ~s, it reduces, for example by moving upwards or by becoming less thick.
The fog had ~ed and revealed a warm, sunny day.
VERB: V
12.
to ~ a finger: see finger