lift

lift

I. lift¹ S2 W2 /lɪft/ BrE AmE verb
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old Norse; Origin: lypta]

1. MOVE SOMETHING UPWARDS (also lift up) [transitive] to move something or someone upwards into the air:
Sophie lifted the phone before the second ring.
He lifted the lid on the pot of soup.
The lumber was lifted by crane and dropped into the truck.
lift somebody/something onto/into/out of etc something
They lifted Andrew onto the bed.
lift somebody from something
The driver was lifted from the wreck.
2. PART OF THE BODY (also lift up) [intransitive and transitive] to move part of your body up to a higher position SYN raise
lift your hand/arm/leg etc
She lifted her hand to knock on the door once again.
Pam lifted her shoulders in a little shrug.
lift your head/eyes (=move your head or eyes up so that you can look at something)
She lifted her head to gaze at him.
He heard a scream and the hairs on the back of his neck began to lift.
3. CONTROLS/LAWS [transitive] to remove a rule or a law that says that something is not allowed
lift a restriction/an embargo/sanctions etc
The government plans to lift its ban on cigar imports.
4. BY PLANE [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to take people or things to or from a place by aircraft:
More troops are being lifted into the area as the fighting spreads.
5. not lift a finger (to do something) informal to do nothing to help:
He never lifted a finger to help me with the kids.
6. lift sb’s spirits to make someone feel more cheerful and hopeful
7. CLOUDS/MIST [intransitive] if cloud or mist lifts, it disappears
8. SAD FEELINGS [intransitive] if feelings of sadness lift, they disappear:
Jan’s depression seemed to be lifting at last.
9. USE SB’S IDEAS/WORDS [transitive] to take words, ideas etc from someone else’s work and use them in your work, without stating where they came from and as if they were your own words etc
lift something from somebody/something
The words were lifted from an article in a medical journal.
10. STEAL [transitive] informal to steal something
lift something from somebody/something
They had lifted dozens of CDs from the store.
11. VOICE (also lift up) [transitive] literary if you lift your voice, you speak, shout, or sing more loudly SYN raise
12. INCREASE [transitive] to make prices, profit etc increase:
The U.S. may use tax cuts to lift the economy.
13. VEGETABLES [transitive] to dig up vegetables that grow under the ground:
She was lifting potatoes.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ lift (up) to move something or someone upwards to a higher position, especially something heavy, either by using your hands or a machine: You shouldn’t lift anything heavy if you have a bad back. | She lifted the lid from a huge pot and took a sniff. | They lifted me onto a stretcher and took me to the ambulance. | He lifted the girl up onto his knee. | They used a crane to lift the carriages back onto the rails. | The massive bull lifted him bodily into the air and shook him repeatedly.
▪ raise to lift something to a higher position for a short time before lowering it again. Raise is more formal than lift: The bridge can be raised to allow ships to pass under it. | ‘Cheers, everyone!’ said Larry, raising his glass.
▪ pick up to lift something up from the ground, from a table etc, especially something small or light: She picked up her bag and left the room. | Tom picked the papers up off the floor. | Why don’t you just pick up the phone and call him? | Maurin picked up the gun and put it in his pocket. | The lioness picked her cub up by its neck. | There are papers all over the floor – could you pick them up and put them away? | The little girl’s mother laughed and bent down to pick her up. | The vacuum cleaner won’t pick this stuff up.
▪ scoop up to lift someone or something quickly from the ground, from a table etc, using your hand or arm: She bent down and scooped up the little dog.
▪ hoist to lift up something which is heavy and difficult to carry: Joe picked up the sack and hoisted it onto the truck. | The crowd hoisted him onto their shoulders and carried him triumphantly down the main street.
▪ elevate technical to lift something to a higher position and keep it there: The doctor advised me to rest and elevate my ankle.
▪ put your hand up to lift your arm into the air, for example because you want to speak in a class or when voting: Put your hand up if you know the answer.
lift off phrasal verb
if an aircraft or spacecraft lifts off, it leaves the ground and rises into the air