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.
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.
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.