What does shift mean?

Definitions for shift
ʃɪftshift

Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word shift.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. shift, displacementnoun

    an event in which something is displaced without rotation

  2. transformation, transmutation, shiftnoun

    a qualitative change

  3. shift, work shift, duty periodnoun

    the time period during which you are at work

  4. switch, switching, shiftnoun

    the act of changing one thing or position for another

    "his switch on abortion cost him the election"

  5. shift, shiftingnoun

    the act of moving from one place to another

    "his constant shifting disrupted the class"

  6. fault, faulting, geological fault, shift, fracture, breaknoun

    (geology) a crack in the earth's 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 earth's crust"

  7. shiftnoun

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

  8. shift key, shiftnoun

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

  9. chemise, shimmy, shift, slip, teddynoun

    a woman's sleeveless undergarment

  10. chemise, sack, shiftverb

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

  11. switch, change over, shiftverb

    make a shift in or exchange of

    "First Joe led; then we switched"

  12. shift, dislodge, repositionverb

    change place or direction

    "Shift one's position"

  13. transfer, shiftverb

    move around

    "transfer the packet from his trouser pockets to a pocket in his jacket"

  14. stir, shift, budge, agitateverb

    move very slightly

    "He shifted in his seat"

  15. shiftverb

    move from one setting or context to another

    "shift the emphasis"; "shift one's attention"

  16. shiftverb

    change in quality

    "His tone shifted"

  17. shiftverb

    move and exchange for another

    "shift the date for our class reunion"

  18. careen, wobble, shift, tiltverb

    move sideways or in an unsteady way

    "The ship careened out of control"

  19. lurch, pitch, shiftverb

    move abruptly

    "The ship suddenly lurched to the left"

  20. shiftverb

    use a shift key on a keyboard

    "She could not shift so all her letters are written in lower case"

  21. shiftverb

    change phonetically as part of a systematic historical change

    "Grimm showed how the consonants shifted"

  22. shiftverb

    change gears

    "you have to shift when you go down a steep hill"

  23. switch, shift, changeverb

    lay aside, abandon, or leave for another

    "switch to a different brand of beer"; "She switched psychiatrists"; "The car changed lanes"

Wiktionary

  1. shiftnoun

    a type of women's undergarment, a slip

    Just last week she bought a new shift at the market.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  2. shiftnoun

    a change of workers, now specifically a set group of workers or period of working time

    We'll work three shifts a day till the job's done.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  3. shiftnoun

    an act of shifting; a slight movement or change

    There was a shift in the political atmosphere.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  4. shiftnoun

    the gear mechanism in a motor vehicle

    Does it come with a stick-shift?

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  5. shiftnoun

    a bit shift

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  6. shiftnoun

    The infield shift.

    Teams often use the shift against this lefty.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  7. shiftnoun

    The act of sexual petting.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  8. shiftverb

    To change, swap.

    His political stance shifted daily.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  9. shiftverb

    to move from one place to another; to redistribute.

    We'll have to shift these boxes to the downtown office.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  10. shiftverb

    to change position.

    She shifted slightly in her seat.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  11. shiftverb

    To change (one's clothes); also to change (someone's) underclothes.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  12. shiftverb

    To change gears (in a car).

    I crested the hill and shifted into fifth.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  13. shiftverb

    to manipulate a binary number by moving all of its digits left or right; compare rotate

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  14. shiftverb

    to remove the first value from an array.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  15. shiftverb

    to dispose of.

    How can I shift a grass stain?

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  16. shiftverb

    to hurry.

    If you shift, you might make the 2:19.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  17. shiftverb

    to engage in sexual petting.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

  18. Shiftnoun

    A modifier key whose main function is shifting between two or more functions of any of certain other keys (usually by pressing Shift and the other button simultaneously).

    Just last week she bought a new shift at the market.

    Etymology: sciftan, from skiftanan. Cognate with Dutch schiften, German schichten, Norwegian skifte.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Shiftverb

    to divide; to distribute; to apportion

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

  2. Shiftverb

    to change the place of; to move or remove from one place to another; as, to shift a burden from one shoulder to another; to shift the blame

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

  3. Shiftverb

    to change the position of; to alter the bearings of; to turn; as, to shift the helm or sails

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

  4. Shiftverb

    to exchange for another of the same class; to remove and to put some similar thing in its place; to change; as, to shift the clothes; to shift the scenes

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

  5. Shiftverb

    to change the clothing of; -- used reflexively

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

  6. Shiftverb

    to put off or out of the way by some expedient

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

  7. Shiftverb

    the act of shifting

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

  8. Shiftverb

    the act of putting one thing in the place of another, or of changing the place of a thing; change; substitution

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

  9. Shiftverb

    something frequently shifted; especially, a woman's under-garment; a chemise

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

  10. Shiftverb

    the change of one set of workmen for another; hence, a spell, or turn, of work; also, a set of workmen who work in turn with other sets; as, a night shift

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

  11. Shiftverb

    in building, the extent, or arrangement, of the overlapping of plank, brick, stones, etc., that are placed in courses so as to break joints

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

  12. Shiftverb

    a breaking off and dislocation of a seam; a fault

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

  13. Shiftverb

    a change of the position of the hand on the finger board, in playing the violin

    Etymology: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]

Freebase

  1. Shift

    Shift is the final studio album by Swedish grindcore band Nasum. It was released on October 26, 2004, by Burning Heart Records in Sweden and on Relapse Records in North America. After this album was released, Mieszko Talarczyk died during the 2004 Tsunami. This was followed by the disbanding of Nasum.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Shift

    shift, v.t. to change in form or character: to put out of the way: to dress in fresh clothes.—v.i. to change about: to remove: to change one's clothes: to resort to expedients for some purpose: in violin-playing, to move the left hand from its original position next to the nut.—n. a change: in violin-playing, any position of the left hand except that nearest the nut: a squad or relay of men: a contrivance: an artifice: last resource: a chemise or woman's undermost garment (orig. signifying a change of body-linen).—adj. Shift′able, capable of being shifted.—ns. Shift′er, one who shifts: a trickster; Shift′iness, the character of being shifty.—adj. Shift′ing, unstable: shifty.—adv. Shift′ingly.—adj. Shift′less, destitute of shifts or expedients: unsuccessful, for want of proper means.—adv. Shift′lessly.—n. Shift′lessness.—adj. Shift′y, full of, or ready with, shifts, contrivances, or expedients.—Shift about, to vacillate: to turn quite round to the opposite point; Shift for one's self, to provide for one's self; Shift of crops, rotation of crops; Shift off, to defer: to put away.—Make shift, to find ways and means of doing something, contrive. [A.S. sciftan, to divide, Ice. skipta.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. shift

    In ship-building, when one butt of a piece of timber or plank overlaunches the butt of another, without either being reduced in length, for the purpose of strength and stability.--To shift [thought to be from the Anglo-Saxon scyftan, to divide]. To change or alter the position of; as, to shift a sail, top-mast, or spar; to shift the helm, &c. Also, to change one's clothes.

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer

  1. shift

    In a military sense, to change place or station. Hence, to shift quarters.

Etymology and Origins

  1. Shift

    An old name for a chemise, denoting a shift or change of linen; also an industrial term for a change of men at certain hours, so that work can be carried on uninterruptedly by day and night.

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'shift' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3811

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'shift' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3387

  3. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'shift' in Nouns Frequency: #1278

  4. Verbs Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'shift' in Verbs Frequency: #502

How to pronounce shift?

How to say shift in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of shift in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of shift in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of shift in a Sentence

  1. Hans Gruenfeld:

    A tax does not stimulate companies to make unprofitable investments, the Dutch are trying to get companies to suddenly move faster than elsewhere in Europe. There's a large chance that will only shift production abroad, without reducing CO2 emissions on an international scale.

  2. Laura Lindberg:

    There seems to be a cultural shift among teens and young adults valuing not getting pregnant.

  3. John W. Gardner:

    The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden of pursing his own education. This will not be a widely shared pursuit until we get over our odd conviction that education is what goes on in school buildings and nowhere else.

  4. Robert Savage:

    The volume of business in FX is likely to shift from the EU and UK to the U.S. and Asia, big picture, the flow of capital is the driver of FX markets and the Asian centers are on the rise.

  5. Daphne Keller:

    I see it as a shift from Silicon Valley cracking down on a lot of other violent groups around the world, like Islamist extremists, to cracking down on white domestic extremists.

Images & Illustrations of shift

  1. shiftshiftshiftshiftshift

Popularity rank by frequency of use

shift#1#3711#10000

Translations for shift

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • směna, posun, posuvCzech
  • Verschiebung, Verstellung, Gangschaltung, verlagern, Shift, Hochstelltaste, Schicht, Verlagerung, Schaltung, Umschalten, Umschalttaste, Shifttaste, verschieben, verstellenGerman
  • βάρδιαGreek
  • cambio, desplazamiento, tecla mayúsculas, desviación, deslizamiento, turno, tecla shift, moverse, mover, cambiarSpanish
  • شیفت, جابه‌جا شدن, انداختن, جابه‌جا کردنPersian
  • vuoro, siirtyminen, vaihteisto, siirtyä, vaihtaa, siirto, muutos, vaihto, shift, työvuoro, muuttaa, siirtääFinnish
  • décalage, touche majuscule, roulementFrench
  • खिसक जानाHindi
  • váltás, váltó, műszak, váltHungarian
  • spostarsi, muoversi, cambio, scambiare, barattare, permutareItalian
  • משמרתHebrew
  • シフト, シフトキーJapanese
  • subcinctusLatin
  • сменаMacedonian
  • ploegendienst, ploegenstelselDutch
  • przesunięcie, zmianaPolish
  • turno, troca, câmbio, marcha, trocar, desvio, shift, mudar, moverPortuguese
  • mit'aQuechua
  • переключи́ть, сдвиг, измене́ние, [[кла́виша]] [[шифт]], перемеще́ние, [[переключе́ние]] [[передача, шифт, сме́на, передвиже́ние, смеще́ние, переключе́ние, поменя́ть, изменя́ть, перемести́ть, дви́гаться, перемеща́ться, меня́ть, измени́ть, перемеща́ть, перемести́ться, дви́гать, дви́нуться, дви́нуть, переключа́тьRussian
  • smenaSlovak
  • växla, arbetspass, pass, skift, växel, flytta, arbetsskift, skifte, byte, skifttangent, byta, skifta, ändraSwedish
  • doriaSwahili
  • మార్పు, బదిలీ, మారు, మార్చుTelugu
  • kaydırma, üst karakter tuşu, vardiya, değiştirme, vites, shift tuşuTurkish

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    a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
    • A. hodgepodge
    • B. secession
    • C. jab
    • D. elan

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