Lift

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.

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.

Lift (lĭft), v. i. 1. To try to raise something; to exert the strength for raising or bearing.

Strained by lifting at a weight too heavy.

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 (lĭft), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lifting.] [Icel. lypta, fr. lopt air; akin to Sw. lyfta to lift, Dan. löfte, G. lüften; -- 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.

Lest, being lifted up with pride.

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.

☞ In old writers, lift is sometimes used for lifted.

He ne'er lift up his hand but conquered.

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 (lĭft), n. [AS. lyft air. See Loft.] The sky; the atmosphere; the firmament. [Obs. or Scot.]