shift (n.)

  1. an event in which something is displaced without rotation

    [ Syn: displacement ]

  2. a loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders without a waist

    [ Syn: chemise , sack ]

  3. a qualitative change

    [ Syn: transformation , transmutation ]

  4. the time period during which you are at work

    [ Syn: work shift , duty period ]

  5. the act of changing one thing or position for another; his switch on abortion cost him the election

    [ Syn: switch , switching ]

  6. the act of moving from one place to another; his constant shifting disrupted the class

    [ Syn: shifting ]

  7. (geology) a crack in the earths crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other; they built it right over a geological fault; he studied the faulting of the earths crust

    [ Syn: fault , faulting , geological fault , fracture , break ]

  8. a crew of workers who work for a specific period of time

  9. the key on the typewriter keyboard that shifts from lower-case letters to upper-case letters

    [ Syn: shift key ]

  10. a womans sleeveless undergarment

    [ Syn: chemise , shimmy , slip , teddy ]

    shift (v.)

  1. make a shift in or exchange of; First Joe led; then we switched

    [ Syn: switch , change over ]

  2. use a shift key on a keyboard; She could not shift so all her letters are written in lower case'

  3. change phonetically as part of a systematic historical change; Grimm showed how the consonants shifted'

  4. change gears; you have to shift when you go down a steep hill'

  5. lay aside, abandon, or leave for another; switch to a different brand of beer; She switched psychiatrists; The car changed lanes

    [ Syn: switch , change ]

  6. change place or direction; Shift ones position

    [ Syn: dislodge , reposition ]

  7. move around; transfer the packet from his trouser pockets to a pocket in his jacket

    [ Syn: transfer ]

  8. move very slightly; He shifted in his seat

    [ Syn: stir , budge , agitate ]

  9. move from one setting or context to another; shift the emphasis; shift one's attention'

  10. change in quality; His tone shifted'

  11. move and exchange for another; shift the date for our class reunion'

  12. move sideways or in an unsteady way; The ship careened out of control

    [ Syn: careen , wobble , tilt ]

  13. move abruptly; The ship suddenly lurched to the left

    [ Syn: lurch , pitch ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.