elevator

Everyday

1. An elevator is a machine like a small room that carries people or things up and down between floors of a building (US and Canada; called a «lift» in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand). tree →
2. A grain elevator is a tall building where farmers store grain. tree →
3. A part on a plane's tail that moves to make it go up or down. tree →

In the lessons

Used in everyday life in tall buildings and in maths word problems about floors and weight limits. Phrases: «take the elevator», «elevator button», «the elevator is out of order». Safety: in a fire, use the stairs, not the elevator.

Examples

• We took the elevator to the tenth floor. tree →
• Press the button to call the elevator. tree →
• In a fire, never use the elevator. tree →
• The elevator can carry eight people at most. tree →
• In London we called it a lift, not an elevator. tree →
• The elevator got stuck between floors. tree →
• A grain elevator stood beside the railway. tree →

Note

«An elevator» (vowel sound). US/Canada «elevator» = UK/Ireland/Australia/NZ «lift». Maths: if an elevator holds 600 kg and each person weighs about 75 kg, at most 8 people can ride. Going from floor 3 to floor 9 is 6 floors up (9 − 3), not 7.