Elevator Definition, Examples & Usage

Meaning 1：vertical lift device (Elevator)

Elevator 🔊

/ˈɛl.ə.veɪ.tər/

A machine that carries people or things up and down between floors in a building.

Elevator with glowing buttons in a bright lobby, people entering

vertical lift device 🔊

➕

/ˈvɜːrtɪkəl lɪft dɪˈvaɪs/

A mechanical device that carries people or goods up and down between different floors of a building.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'elevare' (e- 'out' + levare 'to raise'), meaning 'to lift out'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'elevate' + 'or' = something that elevates you.

📖 Example

Every morning, I press the button and wait for the elevator to take me to my office. 🔊 Each morning, I push the call button and wait for the elevator to bring me to my office.

🔗 Collocations

take the elevator – to use the elevator to move between floors

elevator shaft – the vertical passage through which the elevator moves

elevator operator – a person who controls the elevator's operation

🔄 Synonyms

lift (n.) – a British term for an elevator

hoist (n.) – a device for lifting heavy loads, often used in industrial settings

elevator car (n.) – the cabin or compartment of an elevator where passengers ride

🚫 Antonyms

staircase (n.) – a set of steps for moving between floors manually

escalator (n.) – a moving staircase that transports people continuously

🌱 Derivatives

elevate (v.) – to lift up or raise

elevated (adj.) – raised above the ground or a higher level

elevation (n.) – the height above a given level, especially sea level

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'elevator' dates back to the 18th century, referring to a hoist. The modern passenger elevator became practical in the 1850s when Elisha Otis demonstrated his safety brake.