airlift

American  

[air-lift] / ˈɛərˌlɪft /

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.

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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 British  

/ ˈɛəˌlɪft /

noun

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

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verb

1. (tr) to transport by an airlift

Etymology

Origin of airlift

First recorded in 1940–45; air ¹ + lift

Example Sentences

That incident saw her airlifted to hospital with pins and rods inserted into her back for a fractured vertebra.

From Barron's

Jordan was airlifted to the hospital in Austin.

From Los Angeles Times

The most severely burned casualties have been airlifted to specialist burns centres in Switzerland and abroad.

From Barron's

Dos Santos was "severely burned" in the fire, the club said, and has been airlifted to Germany for treatment.

From BBC

One of the bodies was successfully airlifted by helicopter.

From BBC

Related Words

• airdrop
• fly