Devolving and Shift

noun

• An event in which something is displaced without rotation.
  • synonyms: displacement
• A qualitative change.
  • synonyms: transformation, transmutation
• The time period during which you are at work.
  • synonyms: work shift, duty period
• The act of changing one thing or position for another.
  • usage: "his switch on abortion cost him the election"
  • synonyms: switch, switching
• The act of moving from one place to another.
  • usage: "his constant shifting disrupted the class"
  • synonyms: shifting
• Geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other. (
  • usage: "they built it right over a geological fault"; "he studied the faulting of the earth's crust"
  • synonyms: fault, faulting, geological fault, fracture, break
• A crew of workers who work for a specific period of time.
• The key on the typewriter keyboard that shifts from lower-case letters to upper-case letters.
  • synonyms: shift key
• A woman's sleeveless undergarment.
  • synonyms: chemise, shimmy, slip, teddy
• A loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders without a waist.
  • synonyms: chemise, sack

verb

• Make a shift in or exchange of.
  • usage: "First Joe led; then we switched"
  • synonyms: switch, change over
• Change place or direction.
  • usage: "Shift one's position"
  • synonyms: dislodge, reposition
• Move around.
  • usage: "transfer the packet from his trouser pockets to a pocket in his jacket"
  • synonyms: transfer
• Move very slightly.
  • usage: "He shifted in his seat"
  • synonyms: stir, budge, agitate
• Move from one setting or context to another.
  • usage: "shift the emphasis"; "shift one's attention"
• Change in quality.
  • usage: "His tone shifted"
• Move and exchange for another.
  • usage: "shift the date for our class reunion"
• Move sideways or in an unsteady way.
  • usage: "The ship careened out of control"
  • synonyms: careen, wobble, tilt
• Move abruptly.
  • usage: "The ship suddenly lurched to the left"
  • synonyms: lurch, pitch
• Use a shift key on a keyboard.
  • usage: "She could not shift so all her letters are written in lower case"
• Change phonetically as part of a systematic historical change.
  • usage: "Grimm showed how the consonants shifted"
• Change gears.
  • usage: "you have to shift when you go down a steep hill"
• Lay aside, abandon, or leave for another.
  • usage: "switch to a different brand of beer"; "She switched psychiatrists"; "The car changed lanes"
  • synonyms: switch, change

• (v.t.) To change the position of; to alter the bearings of; to turn; as, to shift the helm or sails.
• (v.t.) The act of shifting.
• (v.t.) The act of putting one thing in the place of another or of changing the place of a thing; change; substitution.
• (v.t.) To change the place of; to move or remove from one place to another; as, to shift a burden from one shoulder to another; to shift the blame.
• (v.t.) To change the clothing of; -- used reflexively.
• (v.t.) A change of the position of the hand on the finger board, in playing the violin.
• (v.t.) In building, the extent or arrangement, of the overlapping of plank, brick, stones, etc., that are placed in courses so as to break joints.
• (v.t.) To put off or out of the way by some expedient.
• (v.t.) The change of one set of workmen for another; hence, a spell or turn, of work; also, a set of workmen who work in turn with other sets; as, a night shift.
• (v.t.) Something frequently shifted; especially, a woman's under-garment; a chemise.
• (v.t.) To divide; to distribute; to apportion.
• (v.t.) To exchange for another of the same class; to remove and to put some similar thing in its place; to change; as, to shift the clothes; to shift the scenes.
• (v.t.) A breaking off and dislocation of a seam; a fault.