Engineering English
Lift
Aerospace Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: The aerodynamic force component acting perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction that supports an aircraft in the air. It arises mainly from the pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of a wing.
Example in context
“At rotation speed the wing generates enough lift to balance the aircraft weight, allowing the nose gear to leave the runway smoothly.”
“Dönüş hızında kanat, uçağın ağırlığını dengeleyecek kadar taşıma kuvveti üretir ve burun iniş takımı pistten yumuşakça ayrılır.”
Where engineers use it
Lift appears in every performance calculation, from takeoff distance to cruise altitude selection and manoeuvre limits. Engineers compute it from wing area, air density, speed and lift coefficient, so they need it to size wings and verify that the aircraft can carry its design payload.
Antonyms: Weight
Practice: can you use “Lift” at work?
A learner is given wing area, air density and cruise speed and must explain which parameters they would change to keep lift constant while the aircraft burns fuel.
Show a model answer
“The wing must produce enough lift to support the aircraft weight.”
“Lift” in 21 languages
| English | Lift |
|---|---|
| Turkish | Taşıma kuvveti |
| French | Portance |
| German | Auftrieb |
| Spanish | Sustentación |
| Chinese | 升力 |
| Arabic | قوة الرفع |
| Portuguese | Sustentação |
| Russian | Подъёмная сила |
| Japanese | 揚力 |
| Italian | Portanza |
| Vietnamese | Lực nâng |
| Hindi | उत्थापन बल |
| Thai | แรงยก |
| Indonesian | Gaya angkat |
| Korean | 양력 |
| Bengali | উত্তোলন বল |
| Dutch | Lift |
| Swedish | Lyftkraft |
| Finnish | Nostovoima |
| Ukrainian | Підіймальна сила |
Frequently asked questions
What does Lift mean in engineering?
The aerodynamic force component acting perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction that supports an aircraft in the air. It arises mainly from the pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of a wing. In Aerospace Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Lift?
Lift is pronounced /lɪft/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Lift used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “At rotation speed the wing generates enough lift to balance the aircraft weight, allowing the nose gear to leave the runway smoothly.”
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