v. & n.
--v.
1. intr. & tr. change or move or cause to change or move from one position to another.
2 tr. remove, esp. with effort (washing won't shift the stains).
3 sl. a intr. hurry (we'll have to shift!). b tr. consume (food or drink) hastily or in bulk. c tr. sell (esp. dubious goods).
4 intr. contrive or manage as best one can.
5 US a tr. change (gear) in a vehicle. b intr. change gear.
6 intr. (of cargo) get shaken out of place.
7 intr. archaic be evasive or indirect.
--n.
1. a the act or an instance of shifting. b the substitution of one thing for another; a rotation.
2 a a relay of workers (the night shift). b the time for which they work (an eight-hour shift).
3 a a device, stratagem, or expedient. b a dodge, trick, or evasion.
4 a a woman's straight unwaisted dress. b archaic a loose-fitting undergarment.
5 a displacement of spectral lines (see also red shift).
6 (also sound shift) a systematic change in pronunciation as a language evolves.
7 a key on a keyboard used to switch between lower and upper case etc.
8 Bridge a a change of suit in bidding. b US a change of suit in play.
9 the positioning of successive rows of bricks so that their ends do not coincide.
10 US a a gear lever in a motor vehicle. b a mechanism for this.
Phrases and idioms:
make shift manage or contrive; get along somehow (made shift without it). shift for oneself rely on one's own efforts. shift one's ground take up a new position in an argument etc. shift off get rid of (responsibility etc.) to another.
Derivatives:
shiftable adj. shifter n.
Etymology: OE sciftan arrange, divide, etc., f. Gmc