VEER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does veer mean? 

• VEER (verb)
  The verb VEER has 2 senses:

1. turn sharply; change direction abruptly

2. shift to a clockwise direction

  Familiarity information: VEER used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VEER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they veer    ... he / she / it veers   
Past simple: veered   
Past participle: veered   
-ing form: veering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Turn sharply; change direction abruptly

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

curve; cut; sheer; slew; slue; swerve; trend; veer

Context example:

The motorbike veered to the right

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

turn (change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense)

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

peel off (leave a formation)

yaw (swerve off course momentarily)

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

veering (the act of turning aside suddenly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Shift to a clockwise direction

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

the wind veered

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

change over; shift; switch (make a shift in or exchange of)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

back (shift to a counterclockwise direction)

 Context examples 

“Then do not veer,” quoth Sir Oliver hastily.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He, also, was addicted to crowding her, to veering toward her till his scarred muzzle touched her body, or shoulder, or neck.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Strangling, suffocating, sometimes one uppermost and sometimes the other, dragging over the jagged bottom, smashing against rocks and snags, they veered in to the bank.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Ruth succeeded in veering right and left and right again, and in running the narrow passage between table and bed to Martin's side; but Arthur veered too wide and fetched up with clatter and bang of pots and pans in the corner where Martin did his cooking.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“If we do not veer we will be upon the rocks within the hour.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Veer again, my hearts, and bring her to try with the main course!

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I would fain have your rede, Sir Oliver, for Master Hawtayne hath fears that when we veer there may come danger from the hole in our side.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Yet when we bale our bowline and veer the sheet our lives will hang upon the breach remaining blocked.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Veer the sheet! and strange it was to him to see how swiftly the blood-stained sailors turned from the strife to the ropes and back.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Then veer,” said Sir Oliver.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)