Force to close off a lift (6)
I believe the answer is:
praise
'force' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'close off a lift' is the wordplay.
'close off' becomes 'p' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'a lift' becomes 'raise' (synonyms).
'p'+'raise'='PRAISE'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for praise that I've seen before include "Worship, glorify" , "Express approval and admiration" , "plaudit" , "Congratulate" , "Honour" .)