n.
Function: noun
Date: 1523
1 a : a means or device for effecting an end b (1) : a deceitful or underhand scheme : DODGE (2) : an effort or expedient exerted or tried in difficult circumstances : EXTREMITY <was put to hard shift s for a living ― Benjamin Franklin>
2 a chiefly dialect : a change of clothes b (1) chiefly dialect : SHIRT (2) : a woman's slip or chemise (3) : a usually loose-fitting or semifitted dress
3 a : a change in direction <a shift in the wind> b : a change in emphasis, judgment, or attitude
4 a : a group of people who work or occupy themselves in turn with other groups b (1) : a change of one group of people (as workers) for another in regular alternation (2) : a scheduled period of work or duty <works the night shift >
5 : a change in place or position: as a : a change in the position of the hand on a fingerboard (as of a violin) b (1) : FAULT 5 (2) : the relative displacement of rock masses on opposite sides of a fault or fault zone c (1) : a simultaneous change of position in football by two or more players from one side of the line to the other (2) : a change of positions made by one or more players in baseball to provide better defense against a particular hitter d : a change in frequency resulting in a change in position of a spectral line or band ― compare DOPPLER EFFECT e : a movement of bits in a computer register a specified number of places to the right or left
6 : a removal from one person or thing to another : TRANSFER
7 : CONSONANT SHIFT
8 : a bid in bridge in a suit other than the suit one's partner has bid ― compare JUMP
9 : GEARSHIFT
synonyms see RESOURCE