Definition of drive
drove
play
\ˈdrōv\;
driven
play
\ˈdri-vən\;
driving
play
\ˈdrī-viŋ\
transitive verb
1 a
:to frighten or prod (game, cattle, etc.) into moving in a desired direction
- drive cattle across the prairie
b
hunting
:to go through (an area) driving game animals
- drive the other side of the mountain
2
:to carry on or through energetically
- drives a hard bargain
3 a
:to impart a forward motion to by physical force
- Waves drove the boat ashore.
- drive the nail into the beam
b
:to repulse, remove, or cause to go by force, authority, or influence
- drive the enemy back
c
:to set or keep in motion or operation
- drive machinery by electricity
d
basketball
:to move quickly and forcefully down or along
- drive the lane
- drive the baseline
4 a
:to direct the motions and course of (a draft animal)
- drive an ox
b
:to operate the mechanism and controls and direct the course of (a vehicle)
- drive a car
c
:to convey in a vehicle
- His father drove me home.
d
:to float (logs) down a stream
5 a
:to exert inescapable or coercive pressure on :force
- driven by his passions
b
:to compel to undergo or suffer a change (as in situation or emotional state)
- drove him crazy
- drove her out of business
c
:to urge relentlessly to continuous exertion
- the sergeant drove his recruits
d
:to press or force into an activity, course, or direction
- The drug habit drives addicts to steal.
e
:to project, inject, or impress incisively
- drove her point home
6
mining
:to force (a passage) by pressing or digging
- drive a tunnel
7 a
:to propel (an object of play) swiftly or forcefully
- drove a long fly ball to the warning track
b
golf
:to hit (a ball) from the tee especially with a driver (see driver f)
- drove the ball down the fairway
c
baseball
:to cause (a run or runner) to be scored (see 2score 4a(2))
—usually used with in
- drove him in with a single
8
:to give shape or impulse to
- factors that drive the business cycle
- the ideas that have driven history
intransitive verb
1 a
:to dash, plunge, or surge ahead rapidly or violently
- rudely drove past her
b
:to progress with strong momentum
- the rain was driving hard
c
basketball
:to make a quick and forceful move
- driving to the hoop
2 a
:to operate a vehicle
- learned to drive at the age of seventeen
b
:to have oneself carried in a vehicle
- drove to Canada as a kid
3
golf
:to drive a golf ball
- drove down the fairway
—
drive at
:to intend to express, convey, or accomplish
- couldn't understand what she was driving at
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