veer 1
— veeringly , adv.
/vear/ , v.i.
1. to change direction or turn about or aside; shift, turn, or change from one course, position, inclination, etc., to another: The speaker kept veering from his main topic. The car veered off the road.
2. (of the wind)
a. to change direction clockwise (opposed to back ).
b. Naut. to shift to a direction more nearly astern (opposed to haul ).
v.t.
3. to alter the direction or course of; turn.
4. Naut. to turn (a vessel) away from the wind; wear.
n.
5. a change of direction, position, course, etc.: a sudden veer in a different direction.
[ 1575-85; virer to turn ]
Syn. 1. deviate, swerve, diverge.
veer 2
/vear/ , v.t. Naut.
to slacken or let out: to veer chain.
[ 1425-75; late ME vere vieren to let out ]