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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

lift en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Middle English liften, lyften, from Old Norse lypta (“to lift, air”, literally “to raise in the air”), from Proto-Germanic *luftijaną (“to raise in the air”), related to *luftuz (“roof, air”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *lewp- (“to peel, break off, damage”) or from a root meaning roof (see *luftuz). Cognate with Danish and Norwegian Bokmål løfte (“to lift”), Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish lyfta (“to lift”), German lüften (“to air, lift”), Old English lyft (“air”). See above. 1851 for the noun sense "a mechanical device for vertical transport". (To steal): For this sense Cleasby suggests perhaps a relation to the root of Gothic 𐌷𐌻𐌹𐍆𐍄𐌿𐍃 (hliftus) "thief", cognate with Latin cleptus and Greek κλέπτω (kléptō)). But perhaps simply from the idea of removing an item from a surface.

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) An act of lifting or raising.
  2. (countable, uncountable) The act of transporting someone in a vehicle; a ride; a trip.
    • Accordingly, in spite of many grumbles and remonstrances from Summerlee, I ordered an additional tube, which was placed with the other in his motor-car, for he had offered me a lift to Victoria. 1913, Arthur Conan Doyle, “(please specify the page)”, in The Poison Belt […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:
    • He gave me a lift to the bus station.
  3. (Australia, India, New-Zealand, UK, countable, qualifier:puristic elsewhere, uncountable) A mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people between floors in a building.
    • Take the lift to the fourth floor.
    • Even the lift in which the three of them were whirled up to one of the upper floors of the huge building was to the girl a new and delightful experience. Daisy had always lived a simple, quiet life in the little country town where dwelt Old Aunt, and this was the first time a lift had come her way. 1913, Marie Adelaide Belloc Lowndes, The Lodger:
  4. (countable, uncountable) A mechanical device for raising vehicles for service, so that it is easier for a mechanic to get beneath them.
  5. (countable, uncountable) An upward force; especially, the force (generated by wings, rotary wings, or airfoils) that keeps aircraft aloft.
  6. (countable, uncountable) Any technique for lifting weights.
    • This is actually an old-school circus lift—the sort of maneuver you imagine guys with twirly mustaches performing using cartoony barbells. 2026, Greg Presto, “Timeless Gains”, in Men's Health, volume 41, number 2, page 14:
  7. (countable, qualifier:measurement, uncountable) The difference in elevation between the upper pool and lower pool of a waterway, separated by lock.
  8. (countable, historical, slang, uncountable) A thief.
    • The lift came into the shop dressed like a country gentleman, but was careful not to have a cloak about him, so that the tradesman could see he had no opportunity to conceal any goods about his person. 1977, Gãmini Salgãdo, The Elizabethan Underworld, Folio Society, published 2006, page 32:
  9. (countable, uncountable) The lifting of a dance partner into the air.
  10. (countable, uncountable) Permanent construction with a built-in platform that is lifted vertically.
  11. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) An improvement in mood.
    • The news rocked us, especially since we were anticipating a lift for our spirits under the grim circumstances. 1981 February 7, “Robert Bobby Bob (personal advertisement)”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 28, page 14:
    • The dismissal of a player who left Arsenal for Manchester City before joining Tottenham gave the home players and fans a noticeable lift. 2012 November 17, “Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport:
    • Just to think he had both a mistress and a wife gave him a lift. He needed a lift, for although he'd had promotion, his wasn't an exciting job. 2010, Anne Baker, With a Little Luck:
  12. (countable, uncountable) The amount or weight to be lifted.
    • What's the maximum lift of this crane?
  13. (countable, uncountable) The space or distance through which anything is lifted.
  14. (countable, uncountable) A rise; a degree of elevation.
    • the lift of a lock in canals
  15. (countable, uncountable) A liftgate.
  16. (countable, uncountable) A rope leading from the masthead to the extremity of a yard below, and used for raising or supporting the end of the yard.
  17. (countable, uncountable) One of the steps of a cone pulley.
  18. (countable, qualifier:shoemaking, uncountable) A layer of leather in the heel of a shoe.
  19. (countable, uncountable) That portion of the vibration of a balance during which the impulse is given.
    • some measure the total lift and others only the lift on one side, a quantity which is not exactly half of the total lift 1887, Claudius Saunier, A Treatise on Modern Horology in Theory and Practice:
  20. (countable, uncountable) A morphism which some given morphism factors through; i.e. given a pair of morphisms f:X→Y and g:Z→Y, a morphism h such that f=g∘h. (In this case h is said to be a lift of f via Z or via g).
    • For a covering space p#58;#92;tildeX#92;toX a path #92;gamma [i.e. a continuous map #91;0,1#93;#92;toX] in X has a unique lift #92;tilde#92;gamma starting at a given point of p#123;-1#125;(#92;gamma(0)) 2001, Allen Hatcher, Algebraic Topology, page 69:
  21. (countable, uncountable) A shorter extract from a commercial/advertisement, able to be used on its own.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
lifts Number=Plur lexicographic

Coordinates

grease pit · inspection pit · liftup

Deriveds

cliff lift · topping lift · lift club · center of lift · liftline · scissor lift · cowlift · ass lift · lift pump · button lift · boat lift · chairlift · counterpoise-lift · lash lift · airlift · wheelchair lift · lift music · manlift · forklift · voice lift · inclined lift · trooplift · booklift · stair lift · breastlift · thumb a lift · lift surfing · lift net · lift scheme · fireman's lift · lift-to-drag ratio · platter lift · faith-lift · browlift · lift car · tail lift · liftless · incline lift · butt lift · stairlift · turbolift · bike lift · man lift · liftboy · eye lift · liftshaft · boatlift · haylift · rook lift · facelift · backlift · shoe lift · lift-off · centre of lift · race lift · lift bridge · surface lift · lift lockdown · ski lift · heel lift · Brazilian butt lift · liftover · high-lift device · hairlift · liftman · service lift · lift truck · lift girl · deadlift · give someone a lift · Poma lift · liftback · eyelift · noselift · aerial lift · skylift · lift pass · draglift · necklift · arse lift · vertical-lift bridge · lift shaft · gum lift · ship lift · gondola lift · sealift · heavy lift · vertical lift module

Descendants

lift · 𨋢 · лифт · lif · lifti · лифтъ · lift · 䢂

Relateds

escalator

Synonyms

ride · elevator

Translations (219)

ru подня́тие (dance: lifting of a dance partner into the air) · it portanza (upward force — see also buoyancy) · de Aufzug (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · la anabathrum (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · yue 電梯 /电梯 (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · it sollievo (improvement in mood) · la pēgma (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · tr asansör (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ru подъём (dance: lifting of a dance partner into the air) · ro lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · km ជណ្ដើរយោង (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ne लिफ्ट (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ps اسانسور (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · is lyfta (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · de Hebefigur (dance: lifting of a dance partner into the air) · yue 升降機 /升降机 (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · tt лифт (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · el ασανσέρ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · cy codiad (act of lifting or raising) · tg лифт (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · bg вдигане (act of lifting or raising) · nv hoł háádaalchʼąłígíí (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · he מַתְלֶה (nautical: rope leading from the masthead to the extremity of a yard below) · it sollevamento (dance: lifting of a dance partner into the air) · ar أَصَنْصِير (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · uz lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fa آسانْسور (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · mr उद्वाहक (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fr ascenseur (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi nousu (difference in elevation between the upper pool and lower pool of a waterway) · lv lifts (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ja エレベーター (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · be пад'ёмнік (permanent construction with a built-in platform that is lifted vertically) · am አሳንሰር (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · kn ಏರಿಳಿಯಂತ್ರ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ru подъём (upward force — see also buoyancy) · fr levée (act of lifting or raising) · lo ຂັ້ນໄດໄຟຟ້າ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · te ఎలివేటర్ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · th ลิฟต์ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · de Auftrieb (upward force — see also buoyancy) · ca ascensor (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · pt ascensor (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ml ലിഫ്റ്റ് (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · nah tepantlacoc (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · eo lifto (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ro ascensor (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi nostovoima (upward force — see also buoyancy) · mi ararewa (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · mn ᠴᠠᠬᠢᠯᠭᠠᠨ ᠱᠠᠲᠤ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · sh dȉzalo (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · sw eleveta (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · de Fahrstuhl (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · nv hoł háádaalzhoʼígíí (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · mk лифт (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · st lefite (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · nv hoł háádaalwoʼígíí (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · nb løft (upward force — see also buoyancy) · yue 𨋢 /䢂 (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · nv dego dóó yaago iłnídílzhoʼí (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · wuu 電梯 /电梯 (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · pl wyciąg (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · af hysbak (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · he מַעֲלִית (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · pt sustentação (upward force — see also buoyancy) · kk көтергіш (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ar أَصَنْصير (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · sk zdvih (act of lifting or raising) · cs výtah (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ur رافِعَہ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · km អាស់សង់ស័រ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ko 엘리베이터 (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ps لفت (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · it montacarichi (permanent construction with a built-in platform that is lifted vertically) · os лифт (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ms lif (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · hi लिफ्ट (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · az lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · mwl albador (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · hu lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi nostokorkeus (space or distance through which anything is lifted) · mr लिफ्ट (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fo lyfta (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · es ascensor (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · sk výťah (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · es sustentación aérea (upward force — see also buoyancy) · pt elevador (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · cs zdvihání (act of lifting or raising) · ru лифт (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ru подде́ржка (dance: lifting of a dance partner into the air) · bo གློག་གི་སྐས་འཛེགས (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ky көтөргүч (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · gl ascensor (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi mielialan parannus (improvement in mood) · tt күтәргеч (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · et lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi nostin (permanent construction with a built-in platform that is lifted vertically) · el άνωση (upward force — see also buoyancy) · fi nosto (horology: portion of the vibration of a balance) · fa لِفْت (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · hi उत्थापक (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · hi लिफ़्ट (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ps لېفټ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · bg поде́м (upward force — see also buoyancy) · gd lioft (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ky лифт (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · kn ಎತ್ತುಗ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ar أسنسير (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ko 승강기 (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ru подъёмник (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · cy codi (act of lifting or raising) · sh ли̏фт (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · nrf ascenseux (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · hy լիֆտ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · zh 升降機 /升降机 (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ja 昇降機 (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · lo ລິບ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ta உயர்த்தி (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · uk ліфт (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ga ardaitheoir (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · cy lifft (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · nb heis (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · mn ᠯᠢᠹᠲ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · bg поде́мник (permanent construction with a built-in platform that is lifted vertically) · io acensilo (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · pl siła nośna (upward force — see also buoyancy) · sv hiss (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · lt liftas (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi nostin (nautical: rope leading from the masthead to the extremity of a yard below) · ur لِفْٹ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · pl winda (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ta மின்தூக்கி (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · pl dźwig (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ast ascensor (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · nap trammammuro (permanent construction with a built-in platform that is lifted vertically) · vo lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · uk підійма́ч (permanent construction with a built-in platform that is lifted vertically) · vi thang máy (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · cdo 機器梯 /机器梯 (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ug لېفىت (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · es sustentamiento aerodinámico (upward force — see also buoyancy) · kw yskynnell (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · id lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fy lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi nosto (dance: lifting of a dance partner into the air) · sw lifti (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · eu igogailu (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · tl asensor (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · bg асансьо́р (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · hi एलिवेटर (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · zh 電梯 /电梯 (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi nostaminen (act of lifting or raising) · zh 升降機 /升降机 (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi nostin (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ar لفت (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · nl lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · hu páternoszter (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · my ဓာတ်လှေကား (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · bn লিফট (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · it ascensore (permanent construction with a built-in platform that is lifted vertically) · ka ლიფტი (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi korkolappu (shoemaking: layer of leather in the heel of a shoe) · sk lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · de Lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · bg поде́мна си́ла (upward force — see also buoyancy) · ar مِصْعَد (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · hu felvonó (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi nosto (act of lifting or raising) · ur بالا بَر (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · sq ashensor (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · tk lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · id daya angkat (upward force — see also buoyancy) · es elevador (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · nn heis (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi hissi (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · lo ລິຟ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ru подъёмная си́ла (upward force — see also buoyancy) · tr götürge (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ru элева́тор (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · mn цахилгаан шат (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · it sollevamento (act of lifting or raising) · hy վերելակ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · nah acuanhuaztli (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · be ліфт (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi nousu (rise; degree of elevation) · sh ди̏зало (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · uk підйо́м (upward force — see also buoyancy) · mn лифт (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · yi ליפֿט (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · hi उच्चालित्र (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · sl dvigalo (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · sv lyft (upward force — see also buoyancy) · ug لىفت (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · sw kipandishi (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · zh дянти (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · te లిఫ్ట్ (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · zh 電梯 /电梯 (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · mwl eilebador (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · da løft (upward force — see also buoyancy) · cs vztlak (upward force — see also buoyancy) · fi noste (upward force — see also buoyancy) · mt lift (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · ru подъёмник (permanent construction with a built-in platform that is lifted vertically) · ur رافِع (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · sh lȉft (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · hu személyfelvonó (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · it ascensore (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · bg лифт (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · el ανελκυστήρας (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · pdt Ellewäta (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · kk лифт (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · it dislivello (difference in elevation between the upper pool and lower pool of a waterway) · fa بالابَر (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fr portance (upward force — see also buoyancy) · uk підйо́мник (permanent construction with a built-in platform that is lifted vertically) · ar أَصَنْصير (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · da elevator (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people) · fi porras (engineering: one of the steps of a cone pulley) · si ආරෝහකය (mechanical device for vertically transporting goods or people)

lift en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Middle English liften, lyften, from Old Norse lypta (“to lift, air”, literally “to raise in the air”), from Proto-Germanic *luftijaną (“to raise in the air”), related to *luftuz (“roof, air”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *lewp- (“to peel, break off, damage”) or from a root meaning roof (see *luftuz). Cognate with Danish and Norwegian Bokmål løfte (“to lift”), Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish lyfta (“to lift”), German lüften (“to air, lift”), Old English lyft (“air”). See above. 1851 for the noun sense "a mechanical device for vertical transport". (To steal): For this sense Cleasby suggests perhaps a relation to the root of Gothic 𐌷𐌻𐌹𐍆𐍄𐌿𐍃 (hliftus) "thief", cognate with Latin cleptus and Greek κλέπτω (kléptō)). But perhaps simply from the idea of removing an item from a surface.

Meanings

  1. (ambitransitive) To raise or rise.
    • The fog eventually lifted, leaving the streets clear.
    • You never lift a finger to help me!
    • Instantly a great flutter of butterflies of all sizes and colors lifted in spangled clouds about them. 1918, Patrick Casey, Terence Casey, The Wolf-cub: A Novel of Spain, page 91:
    • A long, late-night tracking shot from one end of the Neon Boot bar to another actually tracks along the surface of the bar itself—and when there is a drunk passed out on the bar, the camera simply lifts up and flies over him, then continues on its route. 1984 October 12, Janet Maslin, “Blood Simple, A black-comic romp”, in The New York Times, retrieved 09 Jul 2012:
    • Their walk had continued not more than ten minutes when they crossed a creek by a wooden bridge and came to a row of mean houses standing flush with the street. At the door of one, an old black woman had stooped to lift a large basket, piled high with laundered clothes. 1900, Charles W[addell] Chesnutt, chapter I, in The House Behind the Cedars, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], →OCLC:
    • c. 1490, Of Penance and Confession be master Jhon Yrlandː Liftand (lifting) thy hands and thy eyen to Heaven.
    • Once it [a snowdrop variety] became established, some bulbs were lifted and passed on to be chipped (i.e. cut into small pieces and grown on). 2015 February 7, Val Bourne, “The quiet man of the world of snowdrops”, in The Daily Telegraph (London), page G8:
  2. (ambitransitive, transitive) To raise or rise. ▸ To cause to move upwards.
    • Graham secured victory with five minutes left, coolly lifting the ball over Asmir Begovic. 2011 October 2, Aled Williams, “Swansea 2 - 0 Stoke”, in BBC Sport Wales:
  3. (slang, transitive) To steal.
    • Kamal is out with twenty men to raise the Border side, And he has lifted the Colonel's mare that is the Colonel's pride. 1919, Rudyard Kipling, The Ballad of East and West:
    • “Wilbert Cream is a ... what's the word?” I referred to the letter. “A kleptomaniac […] Does any thought occur to you?” “It most certainly does. I am thinking of your uncle's collection of old silver.” “Me, too.” “It presents a grave temptation to the unhappy young man.” “I don't know that I'd call him unhappy. He probably thoroughly enjoys lifting the stuff.” 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter VI, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:
  4. (slang, transitive) To source directly without acknowledgement; to plagiarise.
    • Based on a similarity across a range of Anglo-Indian entries in these three dictionaries, it appears that (along with other lexis) Barrère and Leland (1898) copied this entry from Hotten (1864), who had in turn lifted it directly from Stocqueler (1848). 2018, James Lambert, “Anglo-Indian slang in dictionaries on historical principles”, in World Englishes, volume 37, page 258:
  5. (slang, transitive) To arrest (a person).
    • Maybe the police lifted him and he's in Castlereagh [Interrogation Centre] because he'd been lifted three or four times previously and took to Castlereagh. They used to come in and raid the house and take him away. 2000, Marie Smyth, Marie-Therese Fay, Personal Accounts From Northern Ireland's Troubles:
  6. (transitive) To remove (a ban, restriction, etc.).
  7. (transitive) To alleviate, to lighten (pressure, tension, stress, etc.)
    • The Gunners boss has been heavily criticised for his side's poor start to the Premier League season but this result helps lift the pressure. 2011 September 24, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 3 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC Sport:
  8. (Scotland, especially, intransitive) To disperse, to break up.
    • About three o'clock in the mornin', the company began to lift, and the room to get thinner and thinner. 1832, The Day, page 127:
    • But Miss Macnee had one important move in reserve. She saw the company was about to 'lift,' as she was pleased to term it, and this move must be made before they separated. 1891, Henry Johnston (barrister.), Kilmallie, page 55:
    • "Since when, Willy?" Margrédel led him. "Since the regiment lifted." […] She knew that [the person] had left with his regiment. 1894, David Storrar Meldrum, The Story of Margrédel: Being a Fireside History of a Fifeshire Family, page 228:
    • Others thought the bank [of clouds] would "lift," and that it would be a fine "kwait nicht"; and as they were generally unwilling to lose a night's fishing, most of the crews resolved to proceed to sea, though not without serious misgivings[…] 1887, George Garden Green, Gordonhaven, by an old fisherman [G.G. Green]., page 49:
  9. (informal, intransitive) To lift weights; to weight-lift.
    • She lifts twice a week at the gym.
  10. To try to raise something; to exert the strength for raising or bearing.
    • strained by lifting at a weight too heavy a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706, →OCLC:
  11. To elevate or improve in rank, condition, etc.; often with up.
    • The Roman virtues lift up mortal man. 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene iv, page 9:
    • being lifted up with pride 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Timothy 3:6:
  12. (obsolete) To bear; to support.
    • Th' earth him underneath Did grone, as feeble so great load to lift. 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
  13. To collect, as moneys due; to raise.
  14. (transitive) Given morphisms f and g with the same target: To produce a morphism which the given morphism factors through (i.e. a morphism h such that f=g∘h; cf. lift n.etymology 1, noun 20)
  15. (transitive) Given morphisms f and g with the same target: To produce a morphism which the given morphism factors through (i.e. a morphism h such that f=g∘h; cf. lift n.etymology 1, noun 20) ▸ To transform (a function) into a corresponding function in a different context.
    • Finally, we can lift a partial function into a regular (total) function that returns an Option or a Some(value) when the partial function is defined for the input argument or None when it isn't. 2021, Dean Wampler, chapter 2, in Programming Scala, 3rd edition, O'Reilly, →ISBN:
  16. To buy a security or other asset previously offered for sale.
  17. (transitive) To take (hounds) off the existing scent and move them to another spot.
    • I lifted the hounds (hoping to catch the leading ones there) to the far side of Hallaton Thorns. 1885, Lina Chaworth Musters, Book of Hunting Songs and Sport, page 144:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
lifting Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
lifted Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
lifted Tense=Past lexicographic
yleft Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part obsolete lexicographic
lifts Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
lift Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part obsolete, rare, regional lexicographic
lift Tense=Past obsolete, rare, regional lexicographic

Deriveds

forelift · lift the lid · airlift · lift down · lift oneself up by one's bootstraps · lift oneself up by one's own boot-tags · lift the bar · lift oneself up by one's own bootstraps · lift one's game · lifting · lift oneself up by one's boot-tags · outlift · lift-up · lift and shift · lift all boats · lift up · uplift · lift a finger · shoplift · lift someone's spirits · lift a finger against · lift oneself up by one's own waistbands · lift off · relift · code-lift · liftable · lift and separate

Hyponyms

airlift

Translations (195)

de stehlen (to steal) · fi tukea (to bear, support) · es ercer (to cause to move upwards) · pl dźwignąć (to raise or rise) · kea isa (to raise or rise) · as দাঙা (to raise or rise) · ceb aswat (to raise or rise) · be падня́ць (to raise or rise) · lv celt (to raise or rise) · pt levantar (to raise or rise) · cs vzpírat (to lift weights — see also weight-lift) · hu emel (to raise or rise) · as দঙা (to raise or rise) · kum гётермек (to raise or rise) · pt erguer (to raise or rise) · mk крева (to raise or rise) · lt kélti (to raise or rise) · pl podnosić (to raise or rise) · fi keventää (to alleviate, lighten) · km លើក (to raise or rise) · cs ukrást (to steal) · nl stelen (to steal) · fi nostaa (to cause to move upwards) · mi huataki (to raise or rise) · izh ylentää (to raise or rise) · ru кача́ться (to lift weights — see also weight-lift) · bg вдигам (to raise or rise) · mi rangahua (to raise or rise) · ar شال (to raise or rise) · pl podnieść (to raise or rise) · pl dźwigać (to raise or rise) · zh 舉 /举 (to raise or rise) · ru жать (to lift weights — see also weight-lift) · pl wznieść (to raise or rise) · ca aixecar (to raise or rise) · ru поднима́ть (to raise or rise) · ceb baswat (to raise or rise) · cs podpírat (to bear, support) · as তোলা (to raise or rise) · fi kannattaa (to bear, support) · es alzar (to raise or rise) · cs vzepřít (to lift weights — see also weight-lift) · sv lyfta (to raise or rise) · ka ატანა (to raise or rise) · ar رَفَعَ (to raise or rise) · cs uvolnit (to remove a ban, restriction) · ceb hangwat (to raise or rise) · de anheben (to raise or rise) · pt alçar (to raise or rise) · gug mopu'ã (to raise or rise) · no heve (to raise or rise) · fi nostaa (to try to raise something) · fi varastaa (to steal) · fur jevâ (to raise or rise) · pt roubar (to steal) · crh kötermek (to raise or rise) · fr lever (to remove a ban, restriction) · es levantar (to remove a ban, restriction) · ar رفع (to raise or rise) · fr lever (to raise or rise) · ang hebban (to raise or rise) · lmo alzà (to raise or rise) · sv snatta (to steal) · es ercer (to raise or rise) · pt abafar (to steal) · bo བཀྱགས (to raise or rise) · cs podepřít (to bear, support) · cs zdvihnout (to raise or rise) · fi periä (to collect, as moneys due) · izh nostaa (to raise or rise) · bg повдигам (to raise or rise) · lo ຍົກ (to raise or rise) · as উঠোৱা (to raise or rise) · pt chutar (to steal) · fi nostaa (to lift weights — see also weight-lift) · cs zvednout (to raise or rise) · as উঠোৱা (to raise or rise) · ru подня́ть (to raise or rise) · fi kumota (to remove a ban, restriction) · sk zdvihnúť (to raise or rise) · tr hırsızlık yapmak (to steal) · mg manandratra (to raise or rise) · alt кӧдӱрер (to raise or rise) · de heben (to raise or rise) · el σηκώνω (to steal) · it alzare (to raise or rise) · sk zodvihnúť (to raise or rise) · ang stelan (to steal) · ka აწევა (to raise or rise) · cs zdvihat (to raise or rise) · io levar (to raise or rise) · st utswa (to steal) · mk дига (to raise or rise) · sl dvigniti (to raise or rise) · af steel (to steal) · grc αἴρω (to raise or rise) · bo བཏེགས (to raise or rise) · cs zvedat (to raise or rise) · qu huq'ariy (to raise or rise) · es levantar (to raise or rise) · da ophæve (to raise or rise) · nl rijzen (to raise or rise) · grc ἀείρω (to raise or rise) · nl opheffen (to raise or rise) · fi kerätä (to collect, as moneys due) · tr yürütmek (to steal) · da stjæle (to steal) · tr çalmak (to steal) · cs povyšovat (to elevate or improve in rank) · fr piquer (to steal) · bg вдигам (to remove a ban, restriction) · osx stelan (to steal) · az irəli çəkmək (to elevate or improve in rank) · id angkat (to raise or rise) · af oplig (to raise or rise) · osx hebbian (to raise or rise) · la tollō (to raise or rise) · az aradan qaldırmaq (to remove a ban, restriction) · lb hiewen (to raise or rise) · be падніма́ць (to raise or rise) · vec alsar (to raise or rise) · zh 抬 (to raise or rise) · tr yükseltmek (to raise or rise) · bg издигам (to cause to move upwards) · as তোলা (to raise or rise) · zh 拿起 (to raise or rise) · sq ngre (to raise or rise) · mk дига (to steal) · dlm alzur (to raise or rise) · es afanar (to steal) · ms angkat (to raise or rise) · vec łevar (to raise or rise) · nrf êl'ver (to raise or rise) · kmr hildan (to raise or rise) · az qalxızmaq (to raise or rise) · grc βαστάζω (to raise or rise) · pl wznosić (to raise or rise) · az yuxarı çəkmək (to cause to move upwards) · txb täl- (to raise or rise) · da hæve (to raise or rise) · fi nostaa (to raise or rise) · uk підніма́ти (to raise or rise) · eo levi (to raise or rise) · az qabağa çəkmək (to elevate or improve in rank) · oc auçar (to raise or rise) · zh 揚 /扬 (to raise or rise) · az qaldırmaq (to raise or rise) · no loppe (to steal) · uz ko’tarmoq (to raise or rise) · pl unieść (to raise or rise) · th ยก (to raise or rise) · tpi liptimapim (to raise or rise) · mi kōranga (to raise or rise) · mi hiki (to raise or rise) · ka აყვანა (to raise or rise) · ca alçar (to raise or rise) · fr voler (to steal) · fi nousta (to raise or rise) · nl heffen (to raise or rise) · es subir (to raise or rise) · tr kaldırmak (to raise or rise) · el ανυψώνω (to raise or rise) · el σηκώνω (to raise or rise) · it levare (to raise or rise) · pt elevar (to raise or rise) · cs zinkasovat (to collect, as moneys due) · gd tog (to raise or rise) · bg крада (to steal) · es soliviar (to raise or rise) · ar رفع (to raise or rise) · no løfte (to raise or rise) · ast alzar (to raise or rise) · mi hāpai (to raise or rise) · ia levar (to raise or rise) · st phahamisa (to raise or rise) · de klauen (to steal) · cs krást (to steal) · fi nostaa (programming: to transform into a different context) · ga tóg (to raise or rise) · fi helpottaa (to alleviate, lighten) · mi tiraki (to raise or rise) · es levantar (to cause to move upwards) · da løfte (to raise or rise) · cs vybrat (to collect, as moneys due) · fi yletä (to elevate or improve in rank) · ltg ceļt (to raise or rise) · ro ridica (to raise or rise) · az rütbəcə yüksəltmək (to elevate or improve in rank) · hu elemel (to steal) · pl unosić (to raise or rise) · sl krasti (to steal) · vi nhấc (to raise or rise) · cs povýšit (to elevate or improve in rank) · vi nâng (to raise or rise) · az çırpışdırmaq (to steal)

lift en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Middle English lifte, luft, lefte (“air, sky, heaven”), from Old English lyft (“atmosphere, air”), from Proto-West Germanic *luftu, from Proto-Germanic *luftuz (“roof, sky, air”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewp- (“to peel, break off, damage”). Cognate with Old High German luft (“air”) (German Luft), Dutch lucht (“air”), Old Norse lopt, loft (“upper room, sky, air”). Doublet of loft and luft.

Meanings

  1. (Scotland, UK, dialectal, uncountable, usually) Air.
  2. (Scotland, UK, dialectal, uncountable, usually) The sky; the heavens; firmament; atmosphere.
    • No, no, Leddy! the sun maun be up in the lift whan I venture to her den. 1836, Joanna Baillie, Witchcraft, act 1, page 13:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
lifts Number=Plur lexicographic

Synonyms

welkin (the heavens, sky) · air (gas or vapour breathed) · atmosphere (firmament, ethereal region surrounding the earth)