shift (shĭft)

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[Middle English shiften, from Old English sciftan, to arrange, divide.]

verb: shift·ed, shift·ing, shifts. 

transitive verb 

1. To exchange (one thing) for another of the same class: shifted assignments among the students.
2. To move or transfer from one place or position to another.
3. To alter (position or place).
4. To change (gears), as in an automobile.
5. Linguistics To alter phonetically as part of a systematic historical change.

intransitive verb 

1. To change position, direction, place, or form.
2. 1. To provide for one's own needs; get along: “See me safe up: for my coming down, I can shift for myself” (Thomas More)
   2. To get along by tricky or evasive means.
3. To change gears, as when driving an automobile.
4. Linguistics To be altered as part of a systematic historical change. Used of speech sounds.
5. To use a shift key.

noun 

1. A change from one person or configuration to another; a substitution.
2. 1. A group of workers that relieve another on a regular schedule.
   2. The working period of such a group: worked the night shift.
3. 1. A means to an end; an expedient.
   2. A stratagem; a trick.
4. A change in direction: a shift in the wind.
5. A change in attitude, judgment, or emphasis.
6. A change in position, as:
   1. Music A change of the hand position in playing the violin or a similar instrument.
   2. Football A rearrangement of players from one formation to another just prior to the snap of the ball.
   3. Baseball A rearrangement of one or more fielders for improved defense against a particular hitter.
   4. Geology See fault
   5. Computer Science Movement of characters in a register to the left or right, as of the bits in a byte.
7. An act or instance of using a shift key.
8. Physics A change in wavelength, causing a movement of a spectral band or line.
9. Linguistics
   1. A systematic change of the phonetic or phonemic structure of a language.
   2. Functional shift.
10. 1. A loosely fitting dress that hangs straight from the shoulder; a chemise.
    2. A woman's undergarment; a slip or chemise.

derivatives

shift́er

noun

fault (fôlt)

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[Middle English faulte, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin* fallita, from variant of Latin falsa feminine past participle of fallere, to deceive, fail.]

noun 

1. 1. A character weakness, especially a minor one.
   2. Something that impairs or detracts from physical perfection; a defect. See synonyms at blemish
   3. A mistake; an error.
   4. A minor offense or misdeed.
2. Responsibility for a mistake or an offense; culpability. See synonyms at blame
3. Geology A fracture in the continuity of a rock formation caused by a shifting or dislodging of the earth's crust, in which adjacent surfaces are displaced relative to one another and parallel to the plane of fracture. Also called shift
4. Electronics A defect in a circuit or wiring caused by imperfect connections, poor insulation, grounding, or shorting.
5. Sports A bad service, as in tennis.
6. Obsolete A lack or deficiency.

verb: fault·ed, fault·ing, faults. 

transitive verb 

1. To find error or defect in; criticize or blame.
2. Geology To produce a fault in; fracture.

intransitive verb 

1. To commit a mistake or an error.
2. Geology To shift so as to produce a fault.

idioms

at fault

Deserving of blame; guilty: admitted to being at fault. Confused and puzzled.

find fault

To seek, find, and complain about faults; criticize: found fault with his speech.

to a fault

To an excessive degree: generous to a fault.