Difference and Shift

difference

The quality of being unlike or dissimilar.
- usage: "there are many differences between jazz and rock"
A variation that deviates from the standard or norm.
- usage: "the deviation from the mean"
- synonyms: deviation, divergence, departure
A disagreement or argument about something important.
- usage: "he had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats"
- synonyms: dispute, difference of opinion, conflict
A significant change.
- usage: "the difference in her is amazing"; "his support made a real difference"
The number that remains after subtraction; the number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend.
- synonyms: remainder

(n.) An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish the bearings of two persons, which would otherwise be the same. See Augmentation, and Marks of cadency, under Cadency.
(n.) The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
(n.) The act of differing; the state or measure of being different or unlike; distinction; dissimilarity; unlikeness; variation; as, a difference of quality in paper; a difference in degrees of heat or of light; what is the difference between the innocent and the guilty?.
(n.) That by which one thing differs from another; that which distinguishes or causes to differ; mark of distinction; characteristic quality; specific attribute.
(v.t.) To cause to differ; to make different; to mark as different; to distinguish.
(n.) Disagreement in opinion; dissension; controversy; quarrel; hence, cause of dissension; matter in controversy.
(n.) Choice; preference.
(n.) The quantity by which one quantity differs from another or the remainder left after subtracting the one from the other.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

shift

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

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary