airlift

[air-lift]

noun

1. a system for transporting persons or cargo by aircraft, especially in an emergency.

2. the persons or cargo so transported.

3. the act or process of transporting such a load.

4. a pump for raising liquids by the pressure of air forced into the pump chamber.

verb (used with object)

1. to transport (persons or cargo) by airlift.

adjective

1. of or relating to an airlift or airlifts.

   to increase the army's airlift capacity.

airlift

/ ˈɛəˌlɪft /

noun

1. the transportation by air of passengers, troops, cargo, etc, esp when other routes are blocked

verb

1. (tr) to transport by an airlift

Word History and Origins

Origin of airlift¹

First recorded in 1940–45; air ¹ + lift

Example Sentences

"There are no aid planes, no humanitarian airlifts, no real international movement and no ground efforts to break the siege."

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A French military aircraft is said to have airlifted Rajoelina from the Indian Ocean island to an unknown location, following a fortnight of nationwide protests aimed at kicking him out of power.

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They were then reunited with loved ones at reception points near the Gaza border, before being airlifted to hospitals to begin the process of physical and psychological treatment.

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The base is supplied weekly by the Canadian Air Force, and twice a year with bigger airlifts of fuel and cargo.

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Four of the injured were airlifted to hospital, he added.

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Related Words

• airdrop 
• fly