/ ˈʃʌfl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to walk slowly without lifting your feet completely off the ground :
He shuffled across the room to the window.
The line shuffled forward a little.
2.
to move from one foot to another; to move your feet in an awkward or embarrassed way :
[ vn ]
Jenny shuffled her feet and blushed with shame.
[also v ]
3.
to mix cards up in a pack / deck of playing cards before playing a game :
[ vn ]
Shuffle the cards and deal out seven to each player.
[also v ]
4.
[ vn ] to move paper or things into different positions or a different order :
I shuffled the documents on my desk.
■ noun [ usually sing. ]
1.
a slow walk in which you take small steps and do not lift your feet completely off the ground
2.
the act of mixing cards before a card game :
Give the cards a good shuffle.
3.
a type of dancing in which you take small steps and do not lift your feet completely off the ground
4.
= reshuffle
•
IDIOMS
- lose sb/sth in the shuffle
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: perhaps from Low German schuffeln walk clumsily, also deal dishonestly, shuffle (cards), of Germanic origin; related to shove and scuffle .