English · Daily Life
elevator
/ˈel.ɪ.veɪ.tər/
[/ˈel.ɪ.veɪ.tər/]
lift machine
Beginnernoun
Definition
A machine that carries people or goods up and down between floors of a building.
Example
We took the elevator to the tenth floor because the stairs were simply too exhausting.
We took the elevator to the tenth floor because the stairs were simply too exhausting.
Etymology
From Latin 'elevare' (to raise); popularized in 19th-century America.
How & Where It’s Used
Standard American term for what British English calls a lift.
Cultural Note
Americans say 'elevator' while British speakers usually say 'lift'.