Lift
Lift (lift) , noun
[Anglo-Saxon lyft air. See Loft.]
The sky; the atmosphere; the firmament. [Obsolete or Scottish]
Lift (lift) , transitive verb
[Icelandic lypta, from lopt air; akin to Swedish lyfta to lift, Danish lofte, German luften; -- prop., to raise into the air. See Loft, and compare 1st Lift.]
1.
To move in a direction opposite to that of gravitation; to raise; to elevate; to bring up from a lower place to a higher; to upheave; sometimes implying a continued support or holding in the higher place; -- said of material things; as, to lift the foot or the hand; to lift a chair or a burden.
2.
To raise, elevate, exalt, improve, in rank, condition, estimation, character, etc.; -- often with up.
The Roman virtues lift up mortal man.
Lest, being lifted up with pride.
3.
To bear; to support. [Obsolete] — Spenser
4.
To collect, as moneys due; to raise.
5.
To steal; to carry off by theft (esp. cattle); as, to lift a drove of cattle.
He ne'er lift up his hand but conquered.
In old writers, lift is sometimes used for lifted.
Collocations (8)
To lift up , to raise or elevate; in the Scriptures, specifically, to elevate upon the cross. — John viii. 28
To lift up the eyes , To look up; to raise the eyes, as in prayer. — Bible (KJV) - Psalm cxxi. 1
To lift up the feet , to come speedily to one's relief. — Bible (KJV) - Psalm lxxiv. 3
To lift up the hand , (a) To take an oath. — Gen. xiv. 22 (b) To pray. — Bible (KJV) - Psalm xxviii. 2 (c) To engage in duty. — Heb. xii. 12
To lift up the hand against , to rebel against; to assault; to attack; to injure; to oppress. — Job xxxi. 21
To lift up one's head , to cause one to be exalted or to rejoice. — Gen. xl. 13
To lift up the heel against , to treat with insolence or unkindness. — John xiii.18
To lift up the voice , to cry aloud; to call out. — Gen. xxi. 16
Lift (lift) , intransitive verb
1.
To try to raise something; to exert the strength for raising or bearing.
Strained by lifting at a weight too heavy.
2.
To rise; to become or appear raised or elevated; as, the fog lifts; the land lifts to a ship approaching it.
3.
To steal; also, to live by theft. — Spenser
Lift , noun
1.
Act of lifting; also, that which is lifted.
2.
The space or distance through which anything is lifted; as, a long lift. — Bacon
3.
Help; assistance, as by lifting.
A ride in a vehicle, given by the vehicle's owner to another person as a favor -- usually in “give a lift” or “got a lift”; as, to give one a lift in a wagon; Jack gave me a lift into town. [Colloquial]
The goat gives the fox a lift.
4.
That by means of which a person or thing lifts or is lifted
(a)
A hoisting machine; an elevator; a dumb waiter.
(b)
An exercising machine. [Chiefly British]
5.
A rise; a degree of elevation; as, the lift of a lock in canals.
6.
A lift gate. See Lift gate, below. [Provincial English]
7.
(Nautical) A rope leading from the masthead to the extremity of a yard below; -- used for raising or supporting the end of the yard.
8.
(Machinery) One of the steps of a cone pulley.
9.
(Shoemaking) A layer of leather in the heel.
10.
(Horology) That portion of the vibration of a balance during which the impulse is given. — Saunier
11.
A brightening of the spirits; encouragement; as, the campaign workers got a lift from the President's endorsement.
Collocations (8)
Dead lift , See under Dead. — Swift
Lift bridge , a kind of drawbridge, the movable part of which is lifted, instead of being drawn aside.
Lift gate , a gate that is opened by lifting.
Lift hammer , See Tilt hammer.
Lift lock , a canal lock.
Lift pump , a lifting pump.
Lift tenter (Windmills) , a governor for regulating the speed by adjusting the sails, or for adjusting the action of grinding machinery according to the speed.
Lift wall (Canal Lock) , the cross wall at the head of the lock.