lift

[[t]lɪ̱ft[/t]]

♦♦

lifts, lifting, lifted

1) VERB If you lift something, you move it to another position, especially upwards.

[V n] The Colonel lifted the phone and dialed his superior...

[V n prep/adv] She lifted the last of her drink to her lips.

PHRASAL VERB

Lift up means the same as lift.

V n P She put her arms around him and lifted him up... V P n (not pron) Curious shoppers lifted up their children to take a closer look at the parade.

2) VERB If you lift a part of your body, you move it to a higher position.

[V n] Amy lifted her arm to wave. `Goodbye,' she called...

[V n] She lifted her foot and squashed the wasp into the ground.

Syn:

raise

PHRASAL VERB

Lift up means the same as lift.

V n P Tom took his seat again and lifted his feet up on to the railing... V P n (not pron) The boys lifted up their legs, indicating they wanted to climb in.

3) VERB If you lift your eyes or your head, you look up, for example when you have been reading and someone comes into the room.

[V n] When he finished he lifted his eyes and looked out the window.

Syn:

raise

4) VERB If people in authority lift a law or rule that prevents people from doing something, they end it.

[V n] The European Commission has urged France to lift its ban on imports of British beef.

5) V-ERG If something lifts your spirits or your mood, or if they lift, you start feeling more cheerful.

[V n] He used his incredible sense of humour to lift my spirits...

[V n] A brisk walk in the fresh air can lift your mood and dissolve a winter depression...

As soon as she heard the telephone ring her spirits lifted.

6) N-SING: usu a N If something gives you a lift, it gives you a feeling of greater confidence, energy, or enthusiasm. [INFORMAL]

My selection for the team has given me a tremendous lift.

Syn:

boost

7) N-COUNT A lift is a device that carries people or goods up and down inside tall buildings. [BRIT]

They took the lift to the fourth floor.

(in AM, use elevator)

8) N-COUNT If you give someone a lift somewhere, you take them there in your car as a favour to them.

He had a car and often gave me a lift home.

Syn:

ride

9) VERB If a government or organization lifts people or goods in or out of an area, it transports them there by aircraft, especially when there is a war.

[V n prep/adv] The army lifted people off rooftops where they had climbed to escape the flooding...

[V n prep/adv] The helicopters are designed to quickly lift soldiers and equipment to the battlefield.

Syn:

fly

10) VERB To lift something means to increase its amount or to increase the level or the rate at which it happens.

[V n to/from/by amount] The bank lifted its basic home loans rate to 10.99% from 10.75%...

[V n] A barrage would halt the flow upstream and lift the water level.

Syn:

increase

11) VERB If fog, cloud, or mist lifts, it reduces, for example by moving upwards or by becoming less thick.

The fog had lifted and revealed a warm, sunny day.

12) VERB If you lift root vegetables or bulbs, you dig them out of the ground.

[V n] Lift carrots on a dry day and pack them horizontally in boxes of damp sand.

Syn:

dig up

13) to lift a finger → see finger

Phrasal Verbs:

- lift off

- lift up