v. & n.
--v.
1. tr. (often foll. by up, off, out, etc.) raise or remove to a higher position.
2 intr. go up; be raised; yield to an upward force (the window will not lift).
3 tr. give an upward direction to (the eyes or face).
4 tr. a elevate to a higher plane of thought or feeling (the news lifted their spirits). b make less heavy or dull; add interest to (something esp. artistic). c enhance, improve (lifted their game after half-time).
5 intr. (of a cloud, fog, etc.) rise, disperse.
6 tr. remove (a barrier or restriction).
7 tr. transport supplies, troops, etc. by air.
8 tr. colloq. a steal. b plagiarize (a passage of writing etc.).
9 Phonet. a tr. make louder; raise the pitch of. b intr. (of the voice) rise.
10 tr. dig up (esp. potatoes etc. at harvest).
11 intr. (of a floor) swell upwards, bulge.
12 tr. hold or have on high (the church lifts its spire).
13 tr. hit (a cricket-ball) into the air.
14 tr. (usu. in passive) perform cosmetic surgery on (esp. the face or breasts) to reduce sagging.
--n.
1. the act of lifting or process of being lifted.
2 a free ride in another person's vehicle (gave them a lift).
3 a Brit. a platform or compartment housed in a shaft for raising and lowering persons or things to different floors of a building or different levels of a mine etc. b a similar apparatus for carrying persons up or down a mountain etc. (see ski-lift).
4 a transport by air (see AIRLIFT n.). b a quantity of goods transported by air.
5 the upward pressure which air exerts on an aerofoil to counteract the force of gravity.
6 a supporting or elevating influence; a feeling of elation.
7 a layer of leather in the heel of a boot or shoe, esp. to correct shortening of a leg or increase height.
8 a a rise in the level of the ground. b the extent to which water rises in a canal lock.
Phrases and idioms:
lift down pick up and bring to a lower position. lift a finger (or hand etc.) (in neg.) make the slightest effort (didn't lift a finger to help). lift off (of a spacecraft or rocket) rise from the launching pad. lift-off n. the vertical take-off of a spacecraft or rocket. lift up one's head hold one's head high with pride. lift up one's voice sing out.
Derivatives:
liftable adj. lifter n.
Etymology: ME f. ON lypta f. Gmc