SHIFT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does shift mean? 

• SHIFT (noun)
  The noun SHIFT has 10 senses:

1. an event in which something is displaced without rotation

2. a qualitative change

3. the time period during which you are at work

4. the act of changing one thing or position for another

5. the act of moving from one place to another

6. (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other

7. a crew of workers who work for a specific period of time

8. the key on the typewriter keyboard that shifts from lower-case letters to upper-case letters

9. a woman's sleeveless undergarment

10. a loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders without a waist

  Familiarity information: SHIFT used as a noun is familiar.

• SHIFT (verb)
  The verb SHIFT has 13 senses:

1. make a shift in or exchange of

2. change place or direction

3. move around

4. move very slightly

5. move from one setting or context to another

6. change in quality

7. move and exchange for another

8. move sideways or in an unsteady way

9. move abruptly

10. use a shift key on a keyboard

11. change phonetically as part of a systematic historical change

12. change gears

13. lay aside, abandon, or leave for another

  Familiarity information: SHIFT used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SHIFT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An event in which something is displaced without rotation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

displacement; shift

Hypernyms ("shift" is a kind of...):

translation (a uniform movement without rotation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shift"):

amplitude ((physics) the maximum displacement of a periodic wave)

luxation (displacement or misalignment of a joint or organ)

Derivation:

shift (make a shift in or exchange of)

shift (move and exchange for another)

shift (lay aside, abandon, or leave for another)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A qualitative change

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

shift; transformation; transmutation

Hypernyms ("shift" is a kind of...):

alteration; change; modification (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shift"):

population shift (a change in the relative numbers of the different groups of individuals making up a population)

advance; betterment; improvement (a change for the better; progress in development)

weakening (becoming weaker)

strengthening (becoming stronger)

degeneration; retrogression (passing from a more complex to a simpler biological form)

changeover; conversion; transition (an event that results in a transformation)

tin disease; tin pest; tin plague (the transformation of ordinary white tin into powdery grey tin at very cold temperatures)

sublimation ((chemistry) a change directly from the solid to the gaseous state without becoming liquid)

sea change (a profound transformation)

pyrolysis (transformation of a substance produced by the action of heat)

Derivation:

shift (move from one setting or context to another)

shift (change in quality)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The time period during which you are at work

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

duty period; shift; work shift

Hypernyms ("shift" is a kind of...):

hours (a period of time assigned for work)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shift"):

split shift (a working shift divided into two periods of time with several hours in between)

graveyard shift; night shift (the work shift during the night (as midnight to 8 a.m.))

evening shift; swing shift (the work shift during the evening (as 4 p.m. to midnight))

watch (a period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty)

trick (a period of work or duty)

go; spell; tour; turn (a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else))

day shift (the work shift during the day (as 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.))

Holonyms ("shift" is a part of...):

workday; working day (the amount of time that a worker must work for an agreed daily wage)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The act of changing one thing or position for another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

shift; switch; switching

Context example:

his switch on abortion cost him the election

Hypernyms ("shift" is a kind of...):

change (the action of changing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shift"):

switcheroo (a sudden unexpected switch)

Derivation:

shift (move from one setting or context to another)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The act of moving from one place to another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

shift; shifting

Context example:

his constant shifting disrupted the class

Hypernyms ("shift" is a kind of...):

motion; move; movement (the act of changing location from one place to another)

Derivation:

shift (move abruptly)

shift (change place or direction)

shift (move sideways or in an unsteady way)

shift (move very slightly)

shift (move around)

shifty (changing position or direction)

Sense 6

Meaning:

(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

break; fault; faulting; fracture; geological fault; shift

Context example:

he studied the faulting of the earth's crust

Hypernyms ("shift" is a kind of...):

cleft; crack; crevice; fissure; scissure (a long narrow opening)

Meronyms (parts of "shift"):

fault line ((geology) line determined by the intersection of a geological fault and the earth's surface)

Domain category:

geology (a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocks)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shift"):

inclined fault (a geological fault in which one side is above the other)

strike-slip fault (a geological fault in which one of the adjacent surfaces appears to have moved horizontally)

Instance hyponyms:

Denali Fault (a major open geological fault in Alaska)

San Andreas Fault (a major geological fault in California; runs from San Diego to San Francisco; the source of serious earthquakes)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A crew of workers who work for a specific period of time

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("shift" is a kind of...):

crew; gang; work party (an organized group of workmen)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shift"):

day shift; day watch (workers who work during the day (as 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.))

evening shift (workers who work during the evening (as 4 p.m. to midnight))

graveyard shift; night shift (workers who work during the night (as midnight to 8 a.m.))

relay (a crew of workers who relieve another crew)

Holonyms ("shift" is a part of...):

hands; manpower; men; work force; workforce (the force of workers available)

Sense 8

Meaning:

The key on the typewriter keyboard that shifts from lower-case letters to upper-case letters

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

shift; shift key

Hypernyms ("shift" is a kind of...):

key (a lever (as in a keyboard) that actuates a mechanism when depressed)

Holonyms ("shift" is a part of...):

typewriter keyboard (a keyboard for manually entering characters to be printed)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A woman's sleeveless undergarment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

chemise; shift; shimmy; slip; teddy

Hypernyms ("shift" is a kind of...):

undergarment; unmentionable (a garment worn under other garments)

Meronyms (parts of "shift"):

shoulder strap; strap (a band that goes over the shoulder and supports a garment or bag)

Sense 10

Meaning:

A loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders without a waist

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

chemise; sack; shift

Hypernyms ("shift" is a kind of...):

dress; frock (a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice)

• SHIFT (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make a shift in or exchange of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

change over; shift; switch

Context example:

First Joe led; then we switched

Hypernyms (to "shift" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shift"):

back (shift to a counterclockwise direction)

veer (shift to a clockwise direction)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

shift (an event in which something is displaced without rotation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Change place or direction

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

dislodge; reposition; shift

Context example:

Shift one's position

Hypernyms (to "shift" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shift"):

beat down (dislodge from a position)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

shift; shifting (the act of moving from one place to another)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Move around

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

shift; transfer

Context example:

transfer the packet from his trouser pockets to a pocket in his jacket

Hypernyms (to "shift" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shift"):

transpose (transfer a quantity from one side of an equation to the other side reversing its sign, in order to maintain equality)

shunt (transfer to another track, of trains)

carry (transfer (a number, cipher, or remainder) to the next column or unit's place before or after, in addition or multiplication)

shuffle (move about, move back and forth)

transship (transfer for further transportation from one ship or conveyance to another)

bunker (transfer cargo from a ship to a warehouse)

carry forward; carry over (transfer from one time period to the next)

remove; transfer (shift the position or location of, as for business, legal, educational, or military purposes)

translocate (transfer (a chromosomal segment) to a new position)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

shift (the act of moving from one place to another)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Move very slightly

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

agitate; budge; shift; stir

Context example:

He shifted in his seat

Hypernyms (to "shift" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

The crowds shift in the streets

Derivation:

shift; shifting (the act of moving from one place to another)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Move from one setting or context to another

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

shift one's attention

Hypernyms (to "shift" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shift"):

transfer; transplant; transpose (transfer from one place or period to another)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

shift (the act of changing one thing or position for another)

shift (a qualitative change)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Change in quality

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

His tone shifted

Hypernyms (to "shift" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

shift (a qualitative change)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Move and exchange for another

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

shift the date for our class reunion

Hypernyms (to "shift" is one way to...):

exchange; interchange; replace; substitute (put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

shift (an event in which something is displaced without rotation)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Move sideways or in an unsteady way

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

careen; shift; tilt; wobble

Context example:

The ship careened out of control

Hypernyms (to "shift" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

shift (the act of moving from one place to another)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Move abruptly

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

lurch; pitch; shift

Context example:

The ship suddenly lurched to the left

Hypernyms (to "shift" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

shift (the act of moving from one place to another)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Use a shift key on a keyboard

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

She could not shift so all her letters are written in lower case

Hypernyms (to "shift" is one way to...):

type; typewrite (write by means of a keyboard with types)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 11

Meaning:

Change phonetically as part of a systematic historical change

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

Grimm showed how the consonants shifted

Hypernyms (to "shift" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Domain category:

phonetics (the branch of acoustics concerned with speech processes including its production and perception and acoustic analysis)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Sense 12

Meaning:

Change gears

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

you have to shift when you go down a steep hill

Hypernyms (to "shift" is one way to...):

change; shift; switch (lay aside, abandon, or leave for another)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

shifter (a mechanical device for engaging and disengaging gears)

Sense 13

Meaning:

Lay aside, abandon, or leave for another

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

change; shift; switch

Context example:

The car changed lanes

Verb group:

change (change clothes; put on different clothes)

change; commute; convert; exchange (exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shift"):

cut (make an abrupt change of image or sound)

break (change directions suddenly)

diphthongise; diphthongize (change from a simple vowel to a diphthong)

jump; leap (pass abruptly from one state or topic to another)

channel-surf; surf (switch channels, on television)

break (change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another)

shift (change gears)

transition (make or undergo a transition (from one state or system to another))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

shift (an event in which something is displaced without rotation)

 Context examples 

He had forgotten how to shift for himself.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

We must shift for ourselves, and yet we cannot fly!

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

“Yes, that is all.” His eyes shifted as he said it.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As a result, competition between plakoglobin and beta-catenin will lead to the inhibition of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, resulting in a shift from a myocyte fate towards an adipocyte fate of cells.

(Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

But after 10 years, their species began to shift.

(Environmental change is triggering an identity switch in grasslands, National Science Foundation)

Their tally was exact with the list, and they had nothing to add except that the boxes were "main and mortal heavy," and that shifting them was dry work.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

But the man, shifting the club from right to left, coolly caught him by the under jaw, at the same time wrenching downward and backward.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Exomoons also shift position with each transit because the moon is orbiting the planet.

(Astronomers Find First Evidence of Possible Moon Outside Our Solar System, NASA)

The findings suggest that, rather than target proteins triggering structural changes in Env upon binding, transient shifts in Env may instead enable it to bind target proteins.

(The Structure and Dynamics of HIV Surface Spikes, NIH)

Activation of the D2 dopamine receptor has the opposite effect, shifting the DARPP-32 population toward the threonine-75 phosphorylated form.

(CK1/CDK5 Regulation Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)