shunt

¹shunt

verb \ˈshənt\

Definition of SHUNT

transitive verb

1

a : to turn off to one side : shift <was shunted aside>

b : to switch (as a train) from one track to another

2

: to provide with or divert by means of an electrical shunt

3

: to divert (blood) from one part to another by a surgical shunt

4

: shuttle <shunted the missiles from shelter to shelter>

intransitive verb

1

: to move to the side

2

: to travel back and forth <shunted between the two towns>

— shunt·er noun

Origin of SHUNT

Middle English, to move suddenly, turn away, evade, perhaps from past participle of shonen

First Known Use: 13th century

Rhymes with SHUNT

blunt, brunt, bunt, front, grunt, hunt, Lunt, punt, runt, strunt, stunt, want, wont

²shunt

noun

Definition of SHUNT

1

: a means or mechanism for turning or thrusting aside: as

a chiefly British : a railroad switch

b : a conductor joining two points in an electrical circuit so as to form a parallel or alternative path through which a portion of the current may pass (as for regulating the amount passing in the main circuit)

c : a surgical passage created to divert a bodily fluid (as blood) from one vessel or part to another ; also : a device (as a narrow tube) used to establish a similar passage

2

chiefly British : an accident (as a collision between two cars) especially in auto racing

First Known Use of SHUNT

1842