el ‧ e ‧ vate /ˈeləveɪt, ˈelɪveɪt/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: elevatus , past participle of elevare 'to lift up' ]
1 . formal to move someone or something to a more important level or rank, or make them better than before SYN raise :
Language has elevated humans above the other animals.
elevate somebody/something to something
Their purpose is to elevate AIDS to the top of government priorities.
2 . technical to lift someone or something to a higher position:
Gradually elevate the patient into an upright position.
3 . technical to increase the amount, temperature, pressure etc of something SYN raise :
These drugs may elevate acid levels in the blood.
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THESAURUS
▪ lift (up) to move something or someone upwards to a higher position, especially something heavy, either by using your hands or a machine:
You shouldn’t lift anything heavy if you have a bad back.
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She lifted the lid from a huge pot and took a sniff.
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They lifted me onto a stretcher and took me to the ambulance.
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He lifted the girl up onto his knee.
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They used a crane to lift the carriages back onto the rails.
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The massive bull lifted him bodily into the air and shook him repeatedly.
▪ raise to lift something to a higher position for a short time before lowering it again. Raise is more formal than lift :
The bridge can be raised to allow ships to pass under it.
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‘Cheers, everyone!’ said Larry, raising his glass.
▪ pick up to lift something up from the ground, from a table etc, especially something small or light:
She picked up her bag and left the room.
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Tom picked the papers up off the floor.
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Why don’t you just pick up the phone and call him?
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Maurin picked up the gun and put it in his pocket.
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The lioness picked her cub up by its neck.
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There are papers all over the floor – could you pick them up and put them away?
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The little girl’s mother laughed and bent down to pick her up.
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The vacuum cleaner won’t pick this stuff up.
▪ scoop up to lift someone or something quickly from the ground, from a table etc, using your hand or arm:
She bent down and scooped up the little dog.
▪ hoist to lift up something which is heavy and difficult to carry:
Joe picked up the sack and hoisted it onto the truck.
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The crowd hoisted him onto their shoulders and carried him triumphantly down the main street.
▪ elevate technical to lift something to a higher position and keep it there:
The doctor advised me to rest and elevate my ankle.
▪ put your hand up to lift your arm into the air, for example because you want to speak in a class or when voting:
Put your hand up if you know the answer.