li fe pee r (life peers ) N‑COUNT In Britain, a life peer is a person who is given a title such as 'Lord' or 'Lady' which they can use for the rest of their life but which they cannot pass on when they die. □ He was made a life peer in 1991. [Also + of ]
li fe pre|serv|er (life preservers ) N‑COUNT A life preserver is something such as a life jacket, which helps you to float when you have fallen into deep water. [AM ]
lif|er /la I fə r / (lifers ) N‑COUNT A lifer is a criminal who has been given a life sentence. [INFORMAL ]
li fe raft (life rafts ) also life-raft N‑COUNT A life raft is a small rubber boat carried on an aircraft or large boat which can be filled with air and used in an emergency.
life|sav|er /la I fse I və r / (lifesavers ) N‑COUNT If you say that something is a lifesaver , you mean that it helps people in a very important way, often in a way that is important to their health. □ The cervical smear test is a lifesaver.
li fe-saving
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A life-saving drug, operation, or action is one that saves someone's life or is likely to save their life. □ …life-saving drugs such as antibiotics. □ She decided her child should go to America for life-saving treatment.
2 N‑UNCOUNT You use life-saving to refer to the skills and activities connected with rescuing people, especially people who are drowning.
li fe sci |ence (life sciences ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] The life sciences are sciences such as zoology, botany, and anthropology which are concerned with human beings, animals, and plants.
li fe se n|tence (life sentences ) N‑COUNT If someone receives a life sentence , they are sentenced to stay in prison for the rest of their life, or for a very long period of time. □ [+ for ] Some were serving life sentences for murder.
li fe-si ze ADJ A life-size representation of someone or something, for example a painting or sculpture, is the same size as the person or thing that they represent. □ …a life-size statue of an Indian boy.
li fe-si zed ADJ Life-sized means the same as life-size .
life|span /la I fspæn/ (lifespans ) also life span
1 N‑VAR [oft with poss] The lifespan of a person, animal, or plant is the period of time for which they live or are normally expected to live. □ A 15-year lifespan is not uncommon for a dog.
2 N‑COUNT [oft with poss] The lifespan of a product, organization, or idea is the period of time for which it is expected to work properly or to last. □ [+ of ] Most boilers have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years.
life|style ◆◇◇ /la I fsta I l/ (lifestyles ) also life style , life-style
1 N‑VAR The lifestyle of a particular person or group of people is the living conditions, behaviour, and habits that are typical of them or are chosen by them. □ They enjoyed an income and lifestyle that many people would envy.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Lifestyle magazines, television programmes, and products are aimed at people who wish to be associated with glamorous and successful lifestyles. □ Her dream is to present a lifestyle show on television.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Lifestyle drugs are drugs that are intended to improve people's quality of life rather than to treat particular medical disorders. □ 'I see anti-depressants as a lifestyle drug,' says Dr Charlton.
li fe-suppo rt ma|chine (life-support machines ) N‑COUNT A life-support machine is the equipment that is used to keep a person alive when they are very ill and cannot breathe without help. [mainly BRIT ] □ He is in a coma and on a life-support machine. in AM, use respirator
li fe-suppo rt sys|tem (life-support systems ) N‑COUNT A life-support system is the same as a life-support machine .
li fe's wo rk N‑SING [usu poss N ] Someone's life's work or life work is the main activity that they have been involved in during their life, or their most important achievement. □ An exhibition of his life's work is being shown in the garden of his home. □ My father's life work was devoted to the conservation of the Longleat estate.
li fe-threatening ADJ [oft adv ADJ ] If someone has a life-threatening illness or is in a life-threatening situation, there is a strong possibility that the illness or the situation will kill them. □ Caitlin was born with a life-threatening heart abnormality.
life|time /la I fta I m/ (lifetimes )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft poss N ] A lifetime is the length of time that someone is alive. □ During my lifetime I haven't got around to much travelling. □ [+ of ] …an extraordinary lifetime of achievement.
2 N‑SING [with poss] The lifetime of a particular thing is the period of time that it lasts. □ [+ of ] …the lifetime of a parliament. □ …a satellite's lifetime.
3 PHRASE If you describe something as the chance or experience of a lifetime , you are emphasizing that it is the best or most important chance or experience that you are ever likely to have. [EMPHASIS ] □ This could be not just the trip of a lifetime but the experience of a lifetime.
lift ◆◆◇ /l I ft/ (lifts , lifting , lifted )
1 VERB If you lift something, you move it to another position, especially upwards. □ [V n] The Colonel lifted the phone and dialed his superior. □ [V n prep/adv] She lifted the last of her drink to her lips. ● PHRASAL VERB Lift up means the same as lift . □ [V n P ] She put her arms around him and lifted him up. □ [V P n] Curious shoppers lifted up their children to take a closer look at the parade.
2 VERB If you lift a part of your body, you move it to a higher position. □ [V n] Amy lifted her arm to wave. 'Goodbye,' she called. □ [V n] She lifted her foot and squashed the wasp into the ground. ● PHRASAL VERB Lift up means the same as lift . □ [V n P ] Tom took his seat again and lifted his feet up on to the railing. □ [V P n] The boys lifted up their legs, indicating they wanted to climb in.