Sekirov Dictionary

shift

/ˈʃɪft/

noun 21
verb 20
forms 6
phrases 9

noun21

•
An act of shifting; a slight movement or change.
- There was a shift in the political atmosphere.
•
An infield shift.
- Teams often use a shift against this lefty.
•
a set period of work, day or night, after which another group of workers takes over
- We'll work three shifts a day till the job's done.
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).
A control code or character used to change between different character sets.
An instance of the use of such a code or character.
•
(US) The gear mechanism in a motor vehicle.
- Does it come with a stick-shift?
A simple straight-hanging, loose-fitting dress.
A bit shift.
•
(historical) A type of women's undergarment of dress length worn under dresses or skirts, a slip or chemise.
- Just last week she bought a new shift at the market.
A movement to do something, a beginning.
•
(Ireland) The act of kissing passionately.
- [If] I went on dates with these two [alcohols], right, you're a deep meaningful conversation with this one, … but this one? A shift and a finger and maybe you'd go home, do you know what I mean? — 2024
A mutation in which the DNA or RNA from two different sources (such as viruses or bacteria) combine.
In violin-playing, any position of the left hand except that nearest the nut.
A breaking off and dislocation of a seam; a fault.
A period of time in which one's consciousness resides in another reality, usually achieved through meditation or other means.
The extent, or arrangement, of the overlapping of plank, brick, stones, etc., that are placed in courses so as to break joints.
(UK, slang) be done; ruined
•
(no longer used) A contrivance, a device to try when other methods fail.
- If I get down, and do not break my limbs, I'll find a thousand shifts to get away: As good to die and go, as die and stay. — 1596
•
(no longer used) A trick, an artifice.
- And if the boy have not a woman's gift To rain a shower of commanded tears, An onion will do well for such a shift — 1590
(no longer used) A share, a portion assigned on division.

verb20

•
To move from one place to another; to redistribute.
- We'll have to shift these boxes to the downtown office.
•
[with oneself] To change position; to move.
- She shifted slightly in her seat.
- His political stance shifted daily.
In violin-playing, to move the left hand from its original position next to the nut.
•
To change in form or character; switch.
- As a result, I shifted my approach to focus on group-generated activities and broadened the chronological time frame. — 2008
•
To change gears (in an automobile).
- I crested the hill and shifted into fifth.
To move the keys of a typewriter over in order to type capital letters or special characters.
To switch to a character entry mode for capital letters or special characters.
To remove (the first value from an array).
•
To dispose of, remove.
- How can I shift a grass stain?
•
To hurry; to move quickly.
- If you shift, you might make the 2:19.
•
To manipulate a binary number by moving all of its digits left or right; compare rotate.
- Shifting 1001 to the left yields 10010; shifting it right yields 100.
•
(India) To change residence; to leave and live elsewhere.
- We are shifting to America next month.
•
To practice indirect or evasive methods; to contrive.
- But this I dare auow of all those Schoole-men, that though they were exceeding wittie, yet they better teach all their Followers to shift, then to resolue, by their distinctions. — 1614
•
To use meditation or other means to change the reality that one's consciousness resides in.
- I finally shifted to Hogwarts last night!
•
(slang, vulgar) To engage in sexual petting with.
- The question is what she's done to Waldron, said Eric. Look at him hiding in his locker there. Come on, spit it out. Did you shift her? — 2018
To crouch in game, especially if the shift key is pressed to initiate crouching.
(Nigeria, slang) To steal or kidnap.
•
(no longer used) To resort to expedients for accomplishing a purpose; to cope, get by, manage, make do.
- You need to learn to shift for yourself.
(no longer used) To change (clothes, especially underwear); to change the clothes of.
•
[with oneself] (no longer used) To change (someone's) clothes; sometimes specifically, to change underwear.
- As it were, to ride day and night; and […] not to have patience to shift me. — 1596

forms

shifted · shifting · shifteth · shifts · shiftest · Shifts

Phrases with shift

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