Webster's English Dictionary

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shift

Cross references:
  1. resource              
 
1. shift \'shift\ \'shif-t*-b*l\ vb [ME shiften, fr. OE sciftan to divide, 
   arrange; akin to OE sceB-adan to divide - more at SHED 1: to exchange for 
   or replace by another : CHANGE  2a: to change the place, position, or 
   direction of : MOVE  2b: to make a change in (place)  3: to change 
   phonetically  1a: to change place or position  1b: to change direction  1c: 
   to change the gear rotating the transmission shaft of an automobile  2a: to 
   manage by or for oneself  2b: to resort to expedients  3a: to go through a 
   change  3b: to change one's clothes  3c: to become changed phonetically  - 
   shift.able aj
2. shift n 1a: a means or device for effecting an end  1b1: a deceitful or 
   underhand scheme : DODGE  1b2: an expedient tried in difficult 
   circumstances : EXTREMITY  chiefly dial  2a: a change of clothes  chiefly 
   dial  2b1: SHIRT  2b2: a woman's slip or chemise  3: a change in direction  
   4a: a group of people who work or occupy themselves in turn with other grou 
   ps 4b1: a change of one group of people (as workers) for another in regular 
   al ternation 4b2: a scheduled period of work or duty  5: a change in place 
   or position : as  5a: a change in the position of the hand on a fingerboard 
   (as of a violin)  5b1: FAULT  5b2: the relative displacement of rock masses 
   on opposite sides of a fault  or fault zone 5c: a change in frequency 
   resulting in a change in position of a spectral l ine or band 6: a removal 
   from one person or thing to another : TRANSFER  7: CONSONANT SHIFT