Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Lift?

\Lift\ (l[i^]ft), n. [AS. lyft air. See {Loft}.] The sky; the atmosphere; the firmament. [Obs. or Scot.]
\Lift\ (l[i^]ft), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Lifted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Lifting}.] [Icel. lypta, fr. lopt air; akin to Sw. lyfta to lift, Dan. l["o]fte, G. l["u]ften; -- prop., to raise into the air. See {Loft}, and cf. 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. --Addison. Lest, being lifted up with pride. --1 Tim. iii. 6. 3. To bear; to support. [Obs.] --Spenser. 4. To collect, as moneys due; to raise. 5. [Perh. a different word, and akin to Goth. hliftus thief, hlifan to steal, L. clepere, Gr. kle`ptein. Cf. {Shoplifter}.] To steal; to carry off by theft (esp. cattle); as, to lift a drove of cattle. Note: In old writers, lift is sometimes used for lifted. He ne'er lift up his hand but conquered. --Shak. {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. --Ps. cxxi. 1. {To lift up the feet}, to come speedily to one's relief. --Ps. lxxiv. 3. {To lift up the hand}. (a) To take an oath. --Gen. xiv. 22. (b) To pray. --Ps. 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. --Luke xxi. 28. {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\ (l[i^]ft), v. i. 1. To try to raise something; to exert the strength for raising or bearing. Strained by lifting at a weight too heavy. --Locke. 2. To rise; to become or appear raised or elevated; as, the fog lifts; the land lifts to a ship approaching it. 3. [See {Lift}, v. t., 5.] To live by theft. --Spenser.
\Lift\, n. 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; as, to give one a lift in a wagon. [Colloq.] The goat gives the fox a lift. --L'Estrange. 4. That by means of which a person or thing lifts or is lifted; as: (a) A hoisting machine; an elevator; a dumb waiter. (b) A handle. (c) An exercising machine. 5. A rise; a degree of elevation; as, the lift of a lock in canals. 6. A lift gate. See {Lift gate}, below. [Prov. Eng.] 7. (Naut.) A rope leading from the masthead to the extremity of a yard below; -- used for raising or supporting the end of the yard. 8. (Mach.) 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. {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.