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 verb1: to exchange for or replace by another : change2 a: to change the place, position, or direction of : move b: to make a change in (place)3: to change phoneticallyintransitive verb1 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 expedients3 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