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Glite Dictionary
lift bridge

lift bridge

1 5.7
A bridge with a section that rises so ships can pass under it
  • noun
  • /lɪft brɪdʒ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : puente levadizo
  • Main Street is warmly lit; the Stillwater lift bridge in all its glory, and the St. Croix River winding away in banks of oak.
  • lift bridges and locks

Examples

  • As the lift bridge opened, cars waited patiently for the traffic light to change.

  • So, for example, the counterweights in lift bridges and elevators typify balancing self-help.

    Academic text (2009)

  • But most of today's designers don't design knots, lift bridges, airplane elevators, or scissors, and if they did, they'd already know how, right?

    Academic text (2009)

  • Common examples that show the principle are as varied as scissors, broom holders, lift bridges, O-rings, building elevators, pressurized airliner doors, and knots.

    Academic text (2009)

  • The lift bridge raised so boats could pass underneath it safely.

  • Every time a yacht approached, the lift bridge would lift to allow it clear passage.

Synonyms

drawbridge
vslift bridge
15 5.5

A bridge that can be raised to let boats pass or to stop people from crossing

raises a section straight up vertically to allow ships to pass underneath

Surface Forms

lift bridge singular
lift bridges plural

Morphology

lift + bridge

The meaning 'a bridge that can be raised' is directly and compositionally derived from 'lift' (to raise) + 'bridge' (a span), so a learner who knows both words can infer a bridge that lifts to let boats pass. The noun–noun compound/attributive use of a verb is a common, cross-linguistic pattern, making the concept immediately accessible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The noun lift bridge comes from a simple image: part of the bridge can lift up so boats can pass under it. That's why the name means a bridge that moves 'to let ships or boats pass'.