shift

[[t]ʃɪft[/t]]

v. t.

1) to transfer from one place, position, person, etc., to another:

to shift the blame[/ex]

2) to put aside and replace by another; change or exchange:

to shift ideas[/ex]

3) aum to change (gears) from one ratio or arrangement to another in driving a motor vehicle

4) ling. to change phonetically in a systematic way

5) to move from one place, position, direction, etc., to another

6) to manage to get along or succeed by oneself

7) to use expedients, tricks, or evasion to get along or succeed

8) aum to change gears in driving a motor vehicle

9) ling. (of sounds in a language) to undergo a systematic phonetic change

10) cvb cmp to press a shift key on a typewriter or computer as to type a capital letter

11) archaic to change one's clothes

12) a change or transfer from one place, position, direction, person, etc., to another:

a shift in the wind[/ex]

13) a person's scheduled period of work, esp. at a place of employment operating continuously during the day and night

14) a group of workers scheduled to work during such a period

15) fbb spo baseball a repositioning by fielders as a strategy against batters who usu. hit the ball to the same side of the field

16) aum a gearshift

17) clo

a) a straight, loose-fitting dress worn with or without a belt

b) a woman's chemise or slip

18) spo Football. a lateral or backward movement by offensive players just before the ball is put into play

19) ling.

a) a change or a system of parallel changes that affects the sound structure of a language

b) a change in the meaning or use of a word

20) an expedient; ingenious device

21) an evasion, artifice, or trick

22) change or substitution

23) cvb an act or instance of using the shift key, as on a typewriter

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Etymology: bef. 1000; (v.) ME: to arrange, OE sciftan, c. OFrisskifta, OHG schihten, ON skipta to divide shift′a•ble, adj. shift′er, n. shift′ing•ly, adv.