Definition of 'shift'

Noun

1. an event in which something is displaced without rotation
      Synonyms: displacement
2. a qualitative change
      Synonyms: transformation transmutation
3. the time period during which you are at work
      Synonyms: work shift duty period
4. the act of changing one thing or position for another; "his switch on abortion cost him the election"
      Synonyms: switch switching
5. the act of moving from one place to another; "his constant shifting disrupted the class"
      Synonyms: shifting
6. (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"
      Synonyms: fault faulting geological fault fracture break
7. a crew of workers who work for a specific period of time
8. the key on the typewriter keyboard that shifts from lower-case letters to upper-case letters
      Synonyms: shift key
9. a woman's sleeveless undergarment
      Synonyms: chemise shimmy slip teddy
10. a loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders without a waist
       Synonyms: chemise sack

Verb

1. make a shift in or exchange of; "First Joe led; then we switched"
      Synonyms: switch change over
2. change place or direction; "Shift one's position"
      Synonyms: dislodge reposition
3. move around; "transfer the packet from his trouser pockets to a pocket in his jacket"
      Synonyms: transfer
4. move very slightly; "He shifted in his seat"
      Synonyms: stir budge agitate
5. move from one setting or context to another; "shift the emphasis"; "shift one's attention"
6. change in quality; "His tone shifted"
7. move and exchange for another; "shift the date for our class reunion"
8. move sideways or in an unsteady way; "The ship careened out of control"
      Synonyms: careen wobble tilt
9. move abruptly; "The ship suddenly lurched to the left"
      Synonyms: lurch pitch
10. use a shift key on a keyboard; "She could not shift so all her letters are written in lower case"
11. change phonetically as part of a systematic historical change; "Grimm showed how the consonants shifted"
12. change gears; "you have to shift when you go down a steep hill"
13. lay aside, abandon, or leave for another; "switch to a different brand of beer"; "She switched psychiatrists"; "The car changed lanes"
       Synonyms: switch change

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