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noun

airlift

EH-uh-lihft
noun
1
The transport of people or supplies by aircraft, especially in an emergency.
"The government organized an airlift to evacuate the stranded tourists."
verb
1
To transport people or goods by aircraft, typically in an emergency.
"Injured climbers were airlifted off the mountain."

How to Use Airlift

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEmergency transport by air, or the act of moving people or supplies that way.

Common pairings
humanitarian airlift airlift supplies

Word Forms

airlifted past tense, airlifts plural, airlifts singular

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The government organized an _____ to evacuate the stranded tourists.

Etymology

From "air" plus "lift," modeled on the earlier word "sealift."

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial