airlift

From air +‎ lift; compare sealift.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɛə.lɪft/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

airlift (plural airlifts)

1. The transportation of troops, civilians or supplies by air, especially in an emergency.
2. Such a flight.
3. (archaeology) A pipe that is used to suck up objects from the sea bed.

• non-forecast airlift

airlift (third-person singular simple present airlifts, present participle airlifting, simple past and past participle airlifted)

1. (transitive) To transport (troops etc) in an airlift.

   The mountaineer who fell down a crevasse had to be airlifted out.

   • 2004 November 9, Bungie, Halo 2, spoken by Miranda Keyes (Julie Benz), Microsoft Game Studios, Xbox, level/area: Outskirts:

     My Pelicans are going to start airlifting armor and reinforcements into the city.

• airlifter