Connect first of ropes and lift (6)
I believe the answer is:
relate
'connect' is the definition.
(relating is a kind of connecting)
'first of ropes and lift' is the wordplay.
'first of' says to take the initial letters.
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'lift' becomes 'elate' (I've seen this before).
The first letter of 'ropes' is 'r'.
'r'+'elate'='RELATE'
(Other definitions for relate that I've seen before include "Narrate or associate" , "Tell - marriage counsellors" , "Marriage Guidance - report" , "Narrate or connect things" , "Describe an event" .)