face-lift
UK[ˈfeɪs lɪft]US[ˈfeɪs lɪft]
n
a medical operation to make the face look younger by tightening the skin
n
an improvement to the appearance of something, especially a building
Morpheme Breakdown
face
lift
face
front part of the head
lift
raise
Etymology
the compound "face-lift" is a modern formation from the english words "face" and "lift." its literal meaning, "to lift the face," directly describes the surgical procedure intended to tighten sagging facial skin, creating a lifted, more youthful appearance. this concrete medical sense, originating in the early 20th century, was subsequently extended metaphorically to describe any renovation or improvement intended to refresh the appearance of an object or structure, such as a building. the logic of the term relies on the clear visual analogy between physically raising the skin of the face and figuratively enhancing the outward aspect of something.
Analysis
Structure: face (front part of the head) + lift (raise)
- face: from latin 'facies' (form, appearance, face). functional role: root, denoting the front part of the head.
- lift: from old english 'lyft' (air, sky) via middle english 'liften' (to raise). functional role: root, denoting the action of raising.
Examples
she considered getting a face-lift for her fiftieth birthday.
the historic theater is closed for a major face-lift.
the software update is more than a cosmetic face-lift; it adds several new features.