- Lift
- Lift Lift, n.
1. Act of lifting; also, that which is lifted.
[1913 Webster]
2. The space or distance through which anything is lifted; as, a long lift. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
3. Help; assistance, as by lifting. Hence: A ride in a vehicle, given by the vehicle's owner to another person as a favor -- usually in ``give a lift'' or ``got a lift''; as, to give one a lift in a wagon; Jack gave me a lift into town. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster +PJC]
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. [Chiefly Brit.] (b) An exercising machine. [1913 Webster]
5. A rise; a degree of elevation; as, the lift of a lock in canals. [1913 Webster]
6. A lift gate. See {Lift gate}, below. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
8. (Mach.) One of the steps of a cone pulley. [1913 Webster]
9. (Shoemaking) A layer of leather in the heel. [1913 Webster]
10. (Horology) That portion of the vibration of a balance during which the impulse is given. --Saunier. [1913 Webster]
11. A brightening of the spirits; encouragement; as, the campaign workers got a lift from the President's endorsement. [PJC]
{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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.