shift
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shift
(shĭft)v. shift·ed, shift·ing, shifts
v.tr.
1. To exchange (one thing) for another of the same class: shifted assignments among the students.
2. To move or transfer from one place or position to another.
3. To alter (position or place).
4. To change (gears), as in an automobile.
5. Linguistics To alter phonetically as part of a systematic historical change.
v.intr.
1. To change position, direction, place, or form.
2.
a. To provide for one's own needs; get along: "See me safe up: for my coming down, I can shift for myself" (Thomas More).
b. To get along by tricky or evasive means.
3. To change gears, as when driving an automobile.
4. Linguistics To be altered as part of a systematic historical change. Used of speech sounds.
5. To use a shift key.
n.
1. A change from one person or configuration to another; a substitution.
2.
a. A group of workers that relieve another on a regular schedule.
b. The working period of such a group: worked the night shift.
3.
a. A means to an end; an expedient.
b. A stratagem; a trick.
4. A change in direction: a shift in the wind.
5. A change in attitude, judgment, or emphasis.
6. A change in position, as:
a. Music A change of the hand position in playing the violin or a similar instrument.
b. Football A rearrangement of players from one formation to another just prior to the snap of the ball.
c. Baseball A rearrangement of one or more fielders for improved defense against a particular hitter.
d. Geology See fault.
e. Computers Movement of characters in a register to the left or right, as of the bits in a byte.
7. The act or an instance of using a shift key.
8. Physics A change in wavelength, causing a movement of a spectral band or line.
9. Linguistics
a. A systematic change of the phonetic or phonemic structure of a language.
b. Functional shift.
10.
a. A loosely fitting dress that hangs straight from the shoulder; a chemise.
b. A woman's undergarment; a slip or chemise.
[Middle English shiften, from Old English sciftan, to arrange, divide.]
shift′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
shift
(ʃɪft)vb
1. to move or cause to move from one place or position to another
2. (tr) to change for another or others
3. (Automotive Engineering) to change (gear) in a motor vehicle
4. (Linguistics) (intr) (of a sound or set of sounds) to alter in a systematic way
5. (intr) to provide for one's needs (esp in the phrase shift for oneself)
6. (intr) to proceed by indirect or evasive methods
7. to remove or be removed, esp with difficulty: no detergent can shift these stains.
8. (intr) slang to move quickly
9. (Computer Science) (tr) computing to move (bits held in a store location) to the left or right
n
10. the act or an instance of shifting
11. (Industrial Relations & HR Terms) a group of workers who work for a specific period
12. (Industrial Relations & HR Terms) the period of time worked by such a group
13. an expedient, contrivance, or artifice
14. (Geological Science) the displacement of rocks, esp layers or seams in mining, at a geological fault
15. (Clothing & Fashion) an underskirt or dress with little shaping
[Old English sciftan; related to Old Norse skipta to divide, Middle Low German schiften, to separate]
ˈshifter n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
shift
(ʃɪft)v.t.
1. to transfer from one place, position, person, etc., to another: to shift the blame.
2. to put aside and replace by another; change or exchange: to shift ideas.
3. to change (gears) from one ratio or arrangement to another in driving a motor vehicle.
4. to change phonetically in a systematic way.
v.i. 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. to change gears in driving a motor vehicle.
9. (of sounds in a language) to undergo a systematic phonetic change.
10. to press a shift key on a typewriter or computer as to type a capital letter.
11. Archaic. to change one's clothes.
n. 12. a change or transfer from one place, position, direction, person, etc., to another: a shift in the wind.
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. Baseball. a repositioning by fielders as a strategy against batters who usu. hit the ball to the same side of the field.
16. a gearshift.
17.
a. a straight, loose-fitting dress worn with or without a belt.
b. a woman's chemise or slip.
18. Football. a lateral or backward movement by offensive players just before the ball is put into play.
19.
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. an act or instance of using the shift key, as on a typewriter.
[before 1000; (v.) Middle English: to arrange, Old English sciftan, c. Old Frisian skifta, Old High German schihten, Old Norse skipta to divide]
shift′a•ble, adj.
shift′er, n.
shift′ing•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
shift
Past participle: shifted
Gerund: shifting
| Imperative |
|---|
| shift |
| shift |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  shift - an event in which something is displaced without rotationamplitude - (physics) the maximum displacement of a periodic wave luxation - displacement or misalignment of a joint or organ translation - a uniform movement without rotation |
| 2. |  shift - a qualitative change alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago" population shift - a change in the relative numbers of the different groups of individuals making up a population pyrolysis - transformation of a substance produced by the action of heat sea change - a profound transformation sublimation - (chemistry) a change directly from the solid to the gaseous state without becoming liquid tin disease, tin pest, tin plague - the transformation of ordinary white tin into powdery grey tin at very cold temperatures retrogression, degeneration - passing from a more complex to a simpler biological form strengthening - becoming stronger weakening - becoming weaker | |
| 3. | shift - the time period during which you are at work hours - a period of time assigned for work; "they work long hours" workday, working day - the amount of time that a worker must work for an agreed daily wage; "they work an 8-hour day" go, spell, tour, turn - a time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else); "it's my go"; "a spell of work" trick - a period of work or duty watch - a period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty day shift - the work shift during the day (as 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) evening shift, swing shift - the work shift during the evening (as 4 p.m. to midnight) graveyard shift, night shift - the work shift during the night (as midnight to 8 a.m.) split shift - a working shift divided into two periods of time with several hours in between | |
| 4. | shift - the act of changing one thing or position for another; "his switch on abortion cost him the election" change - the action of changing something; "the change of government had no impact on the economy"; "his change on abortion cost him the election" switcheroo - a sudden unexpected switch | |
| 5. | shift - the act of moving from one place to another; "his constant shifting disrupted the class" | |
| 6. |  shift - (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"geology - a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocks fault line - (geology) line determined by the intersection of a geological fault and the earth's surface inclined fault - a geological fault in which one side is above the other strike-slip fault - a geological fault in which one of the adjacent surfaces appears to have moved horizontally | |
| 7. | shift - a crew of workers who work for a specific period of time evening shift - workers who work during the evening (as 4 p.m. to midnight) graveyard shift, night shift - workers who work during the night (as midnight to 8 a.m.) relay - a crew of workers who relieve another crew | |
| 8. | shift - the key on the typewriter keyboard that shifts from lower-case letters to upper-case letters key - a lever (as in a keyboard) that actuates a mechanism when depressed typewriter keyboard - a keyboard for manually entering characters to be printed | |
| 9. |  shift - a woman's sleeveless undergarment shoulder strap, strap - a band that goes over the shoulder and supports a garment or bag undergarment, unmentionable - a garment worn under other garments | |
| 10. | shift - a loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders without a waist | |
| Verb | 1. | shift - make a shift in or exchange of; "First Joe led; then we switched" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" back - shift to a counterclockwise direction; "the wind backed" veer - shift to a clockwise direction; "the wind veered" |
| 2. | shift - change place or direction; "Shift one's position" move, displace - cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense; "Move those boxes into the corner, please"; "I'm moving my money to another bank"; "The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant" beat down - dislodge from a position; "She beat the dealer down to a much better price" | |
| 3. |  shift - move around; "transfer the packet from his trouser pockets to a pocket in his jacket"move, displace - cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense; "Move those boxes into the corner, please"; "I'm moving my money to another bank"; "The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant" transpose - transfer a quantity from one side of an equation to the other side reversing its sign, in order to maintain equality shunt - transfer to another track, of trains carry - transfer (a number, cipher, or remainder) to the next column or unit's place before or after, in addition or multiplication; "put down 5 and carry 2" shuffle - move about, move back and forth; "He shuffled his funds among different accounts in various countries so as to avoid the IRS" transship - transfer for further transportation from one ship or conveyance to another bunker - transfer cargo from a ship to a warehouse carry forward, carry over - transfer from one time period to the next remove, transfer - shift the position or location of, as for business, legal, educational, or military purposes; "He removed his children to the countryside"; "Remove the troops to the forest surrounding the city"; "remove a case to another court" translocate - transfer (a chromosomal segment) to a new position | |
| 4. |  shift - move very slightly; "He shifted in his seat"move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right" | |
| 5. | shift - move from one setting or context to another; "shift the emphasis"; "shift one's attention" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" transpose, transplant, transfer - transfer from one place or period to another; "The ancient Greek story was transplanted into Modern America" | |
| 6. | shift - change in quality; "His tone shifted" change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" | |
| 7. | shift - move and exchange for another; "shift the date for our class reunion" interchange, substitute, replace, exchange - put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items; "the con artist replaced the original with a fake Rembrandt"; "substitute regular milk with fat-free milk"; "synonyms can be interchanged without a changing the context's meaning" | |
| 8. | shift - move sideways or in an unsteady way; "The ship careened out of control" move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right" | |
| 9. | shift - move abruptly; "The ship suddenly lurched to the left" move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right" | |
| 10. | shift - use a shift key on a keyboard; "She could not shift so all her letters are written in lower case" | |
| 11. | shift - change phonetically as part of a systematic historical change; "Grimm showed how the consonants shifted" phonetics - the branch of acoustics concerned with speech processes including its production and perception and acoustic analysis change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" | |
| 12. | shift - change gears; "you have to shift when you go down a steep hill" | |
| 13. | shift - lay aside, abandon, or leave for another; "switch to a different brand of beer"; "She switched psychiatrists"; "The car changed lanes" exchange, convert, commute, change - exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category; "Could you convert my dollars into pounds?"; "He changed his name"; "convert centimeters into inches"; "convert holdings into shares" change - change clothes; put on different clothes; "Change before you go to the opera" transition - make or undergo a transition (from one state or system to another); "The airline transitioned to more fuel-efficient jets"; "The adagio transitioned into an allegro" shift - change gears; "you have to shift when you go down a steep hill" break - change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another; "Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children" channel-surf, surf - switch channels, on television leap, jump - pass abruptly from one state or topic to another; "leap into fame"; "jump to a conclusion"; "jump from one thing to another" diphthongise, diphthongize - change from a simple vowel to a diphthong; "This vowel diphthongized in Germanic" cut - make an abrupt change of image or sound; "cut from one scene to another" break - change directions suddenly |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
shift
verb
1. move, drift, move around, veer, budge, swerve, change position The entire pile shifted and slid, thumping onto the floor.
2. remove, move, transfer, displace, relocate, rearrange, transpose, reposition We shifted the vans and used the area for skateboarding.
noun
1. change, switch, shifting, modification, alteration, displacement, about-turn, permutation, fluctuation a shift in policy
2. move, transfer, removal, veering, relocation, rearrangement, conveyance, repositioning There has been a shift of the elderly to this state.
3. stint, stretch, spell, work period His father worked shifts in a steel mill.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
shift
verb1. To give up in return for something else:
Informal: swap.
1. The act of exchanging or substituting:
Informal: swap.
2. A limited, often assigned period of activity, duty, or opportunity:
3. Something used temporarily or reluctantly when other means are not available:
5. A change in normal place or position:
6. The process or result of changing from one appearance, state, or phase to another:
7. The process or an instance of passing from one form, state, or stage to another:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
shift
[ʃɪft]A. N
1. (= change) → cambio m
there has been a shift in attitudes on the part of consumers → ha habido un cambio de actitud por parte de los consumidores
a shift in weather patterns → un cambio en el comportamiento del tiempo
there was a shift in the wind → el viento cambió de dirección, se produjo un cambio de dirección del viento
the shift to a market economy → la transición hacia una economía de mercado
some have problems making the shift from one culture to another → algunos tienen problemas al hacer el cambio de una cultura a otra
to make shift with/without sth → arreglárselas con/sin algo
there has been a shift in attitudes on the part of consumers → ha habido un cambio de actitud por parte de los consumidores
a shift in weather patterns → un cambio en el comportamiento del tiempo
there was a shift in the wind → el viento cambió de dirección, se produjo un cambio de dirección del viento
the shift to a market economy → la transición hacia una economía de mercado
some have problems making the shift from one culture to another → algunos tienen problemas al hacer el cambio de una cultura a otra
to make shift with/without sth → arreglárselas con/sin algo
2. (= period of work) → turno m; (= group of workers) → tanda f
day/night shift → turno m de día/noche
to work (in) shifts → trabajar por turnos
I work an eight-hour shift → trabajo or hago turnos de ocho horas
day/night shift → turno m de día/noche
to work (in) shifts → trabajar por turnos
I work an eight-hour shift → trabajo or hago turnos de ocho horas
4. (= dress) → vestido m suelto; (= undergarment) → combinación f, viso m
5. (Geol) → desplazamiento m
B. VT
1. (= change) [+ opinion, tactics, policy] → cambiar
the result shifted the balance of power in their favour → el resultado cambió el equilibrio político or inclinó la balanza del poder a su favor
to shift one's ground → cambiar de opinión or parecer
to shift one's position → cambiar de postura
the result shifted the balance of power in their favour → el resultado cambió el equilibrio político or inclinó la balanza del poder a su favor
to shift one's ground → cambiar de opinión or parecer
to shift one's position → cambiar de postura
2. (= transfer) she shifted her weight to the other leg → cambió el peso a la otra pierna, volcó su peso sobre la otra pierna
voters shifted their allegiance → los votantes trasladaron su lealtad a otro partido
to shift the blame onto sb else → cargar a otro con la culpa, echar la culpa a otro
they're trying to shift the blame → intentan cargar a otro con la culpa, intentan echar or pasar la culpa a otro
he shifted his gaze to me → pasó a fijarse en mí
voters shifted their allegiance → los votantes trasladaron su lealtad a otro partido
to shift the blame onto sb else → cargar a otro con la culpa, echar la culpa a otro
they're trying to shift the blame → intentan cargar a otro con la culpa, intentan echar or pasar la culpa a otro
he shifted his gaze to me → pasó a fijarse en mí
3. (= move) → mover
he shifted the chair closer to the bed → movió la silla acercándola a la cama
to shift scenery (Theat) → cambiar el decorado
shift yourself! → ¡quítate del medio or de en medio!, ¡muévete!
he shifted the chair closer to the bed → movió la silla acercándola a la cama
to shift scenery (Theat) → cambiar el decorado
shift yourself! → ¡quítate del medio or de en medio!, ¡muévete!
4. (= sell) [+ stock] → deshacerse de, vender
6. (US) (Aut) [+ gear] → cambiar de
C. VI
1. (= move) [person] → moverse; [load, cargo] → correrse
he shifted uncomfortably in his seat → se removía incómodo en la silla
she shifted from one foot to the other → cambiaba de un pie a otro
he shifted uncomfortably in his seat → se removía incómodo en la silla
she shifted from one foot to the other → cambiaba de un pie a otro
2. (= change, transfer) [wind] → cambiar de dirección; [attitudes, mood] → cambiar
world attention has shifted away from China → el foco de atención mundial se ha alejado de China
the emphasis now has shifted to preventive medicine → ahora se hace más hincapié en la medicina preventiva
the scene shifts to Burgos → la escena se traslada a Burgos
we couldn't get him to shift → no logramos hacerle cambiar de actitud
world attention has shifted away from China → el foco de atención mundial se ha alejado de China
the emphasis now has shifted to preventive medicine → ahora se hace más hincapié en la medicina preventiva
the scene shifts to Burgos → la escena se traslada a Burgos
we couldn't get him to shift → no logramos hacerle cambiar de actitud
3. (= move quickly) → volar
that car was really shifting → ¡ese coche corría que volaba or que se las pelaba!
that car was really shifting → ¡ese coche corría que volaba or que se las pelaba!
4. (US) (Aut) to shift into high/low gear → cambiar a una velocidad más alta/baja
the presidential campaign has shifted into high gear → la campaña por la presidencia se ha acelerado
the presidential campaign has shifted into high gear → la campaña por la presidencia se ha acelerado
5. to shift for o.s → arreglárselas solo
D. CPD shift key N → tecla f de mayúsculas
shift lock N → tecla f de bloqueo de mayúsculas (Sp), tecla f fijamayúsculas (LAm)
shift system N [of work] → sistema m de turnos
shift register N → registro m de desplazamiento
shift work N → trabajo m por turnos
shift worker N → trabajador(a) m/f por turnos
shift lock N → tecla f de bloqueo de mayúsculas (Sp), tecla f fijamayúsculas (LAm)
shift system N [of work] → sistema m de turnos
shift register N → registro m de desplazamiento
shift work N → trabajo m por turnos
shift worker N → trabajador(a) m/f por turnos
shift along VI + ADV = shift over
shift around shift about
shift up = shift over
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
shift
(ʃift) verb1. to change (the) position or direction (of). We spent the whole evening shifting furniture around; The wind shifted to the west overnight.mover, desplazar
2. to transfer. She shifted the blame on to me.traspasar, transferir
3. to get rid of. This detergent shifts stains.quitar
noun1. a change (of position etc). a shift of emphasis.cambio
2. a group of people who begin work on a job when another group stop work. The night shift does the heavy work.turno
3. the period during which such a group works. an eight-hour shift; (also adjective) shift work.turno
ˈshiftless adjective inefficient, lazy, or without a set purpose. He's rather shiftless – he's had four jobs in six months.perezoso
ˈshiftlessness nounˈshifty adjective looking cunning and dishonest. I don't trust him – he has a very shifty look.furtivo, sospechoso
ˈshiftily adverbˈshiftiness nounKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
shift
→ cambio , desplazamiento , desplazar , moverMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
shift
n. cambio de posición, desviación; [work period] turno;
v. cambiar, desviar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012