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Entry 20 senses · 4 variants Webster, 1913

Lift

/(lĭft)/ · IPA /lɪft/
01 n. The sky; the atmosphere; the firmament.
  1. 1.
    The sky; the atmosphere; the firmament.[Obs. or Scot.]
02 v. t. 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; somet…
imp. & p. p. Lifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lifting
  1. 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. 2.
    To raise, elevate, exalt, improve, in rank, condition, estimation, character, etc.; -- often with up.
    “The Roman virtues lift up mortal man.” — Addison.
    “Lest, being lifted up with pride.” — 1 Tim. iii. 6.
  3. 3.
    To bear; to support.[Obs.]
  4. 4.
    To collect, as moneys due; to raise.
  5. 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.” — Shak.
Phrases & compounds
To lift up — to raise or elevate; in the Scriptures, specifically, to elevate upon the cross.
To lift up the eyes — To look up; to raise the eyes, as in prayer.
To lift up the feet — to come speedily to one's relief.
To lift up the hand — To take an oath.
To lift up the hand against — to rebel against; to assault; to attack; to injure; to oppress.
To lift up one's head — to cause one to be exalted or to rejoice.
To lift up the heel against — to treat with insolence or unkindness.
To lift up the voice — to cry aloud; to call out.
03 v. i. To try to raise something; to exert the strength for raising or bearing.
  1. 1.
    To try to raise something; to exert the strength for raising or bearing.
    “Strained by lifting at a weight too heavy.” — Locke.
  2. 2.
    To rise; to become or appear raised or elevated; as, the fog lifts; the land lifts to a ship approaching it.
  3. 3.
    To steal; also, to live by theft.
04 n. Act of lifting; also, that which is lifted.
  1. 1.
    Act of lifting; also, that which is lifted.
  2. 2.
    The space or distance through which anything is lifted; as, a long lift.
  3. 3.
    Help; assistance, as by lifting.[Colloq.]
    “The goat gives the fox a lift.” — L'Estrange.
  4. 4.
    That by means of which a person or thing lifts or is lifted[Chiefly Brit.]
  5. 5.
    A rise; a degree of elevation; as, the lift of a lock in canals.
  6. 6.
    A lift gate. See Lift gate, below.[Prov. Eng.]
  7. 7.
    A rope leading from the masthead to the extremity of a yard below; -- used for raising or supporting the end of the yard.(Naut.)
  8. 8.
    One of the steps of a cone pulley.(Mach.)
  9. 9.
    A layer of leather in the heel.(Shoemaking)
  10. 10.
    That portion of the vibration of a balance during which the impulse is given.(Horology)
  11. 11.
    A brightening of the spirits; encouragement; as, the campaign workers got a lift from the President's endorsement.
Phrases & compounds
Dead lift — See under Dead.
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 — a governor for regulating the speed by adjusting the sails, or for adjusting the action of grinding machinery according to the speed.
Lift wall — the cross wall at the head of the lock.