Lift /(lĭft)/

1. The sky; the atmosphere; the firmament. [Obs. or Scot.]

imp. & p. p. Lifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lifting

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.]
4. To collect, as moneys due; to raise.
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.

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. To steal; also, to live by theft.

1. Act of lifting; also, that which is lifted.
2. The space or distance through which anything is lifted; as, a long lift.
3. Help; assistance, as by lifting. [Colloq.]

   The goat gives the fox a lift.

4. That by means of which a person or thing lifts or is lifted [Chiefly Brit.]
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. 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. One of the steps of a cone pulley. (Mach.)
9. A layer of leather in the heel. (Shoemaking)
10. That portion of the vibration of a balance during which the impulse is given. (Horology)
11. A brightening of the spirits; encouragement; as, the campaign workers got a lift from the President's endorsement.