Definition of Shift

  • (v. t.) The act of shifting.
  • (v. t.) The act of putting one thing in the place of another, or of changing the place of a thing; change; substitution.
  • (v. t.) Something frequently shifted; especially, a woman's under-garment; a chemise.
  • (v. t.) 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.
  • (v. t.) In building, the extent, or arrangement, of the overlapping of plank, brick, stones, etc., that are placed in courses so as to break joints.
  • (v. t.) A breaking off and dislocation of a seam; a fault.
  • (v. t.) A change of the position of the hand on the finger board, in playing the violin.
  • (v. t.) To divide; to distribute; to apportion.
  • (v. t.) 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.
  • (v. t.) To change the position of; to alter the bearings of; to turn; as, to shift the helm or sails.
  • (v. t.) 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.
  • (v. t.) To change the clothing of; -- used reflexively.
  • (v. t.) To put off or out of the way by some expedient.

Synonyms of Shift


Homophones of Shift


No Homophones Found.