# elevator

/ˈɛɫəˌveɪtɝ/ (US) · /ˈɛlɪvˌeɪtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/elevator
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. grain storage

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a tall building used for storing grain like wheat or corn.

For teachers: a large facility or tower designed for the storage and mechanical handling of grain.

- The tall grain elevator stood out against the flat landscape of the farm.
- The cooperative invested in a modern grain elevator to ensure the harvest remained dry and protected from pests during the winter months.

### 3. airplane part

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a part on the tail of an airplane that helps it go up or down.

For teachers: a hinged horizontal control surface on the tail of an aircraft used to control pitch.

- The pilot moved the elevator to make the plane climb higher.
- The flight investigator noted that the elevator had become unresponsive, preventing the pilot from correcting the aircraft's steep descent.

### 4. muscle

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a muscle in your body that helps lift a part of you, like your eye or arm.

For teachers: any muscle that serves to raise a specific body part or organ.

- The doctor explained how the elevator muscle helps you look upward.
- The surgeon carefully avoided the elevator muscle of the upper eyelid to ensure the patient retained full motor function after the procedure.

### 5. to ride a lift

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English

to travel from one floor to another using an elevator.

For teachers: to move or be transported via an elevator mechanism.

- We decided to elevator up to the tenth floor instead of taking the stairs.
- Rather than navigating the crowded stairwell, the staff preferred to elevator down to the lobby during the lunch rush.

## Examples

- I took the elevator to the tenth floor.
- The office building has four high-speed elevators to help employees reach their desks quickly during the morning rush.
- Modern skyscrapers rely on sophisticated elevator algorithms to minimize wait times and optimize the flow of thousands of occupants across dozens of floors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.