Main Entry: ¹shift

Pronunciation: \ˈshift\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sciftan to divide, arrange; akin to Old Norse skipa to arrange, assign

Date: 13th century

transitive verb 1 : to exchange for or replace by another : change
2 a : to change the place, position, or direction of : move b : to make a change in (place)
3 : to change phoneticallyintransitive verb 1 a : to change place or position b : to change direction <the wind shifted> c : to change gears d : to depress the shift key (as on a typewriter)
2 a : to assume responsibility <had to shift for themselves> b : to resort to expedients
3 a : to go through a change <she shifted in her approach> b : to change one's clothes c : to become changed phonetically

— shift·able \ˈshif-tə-bəl\ adjective

— shift gears : to make a change