"shifter" meaning in English

See shifter in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-shifter.wav [US] Forms: shifters [plural]
Rhymes: -ɪftə(ɹ) Etymology: From shift + -er. Etymology templates: {{ety|en|:af|shift|-er|text=+|tree=1}} From shift + -er. Head templates: {{en-noun}} shifter (plural shifters)
  1. One who, or that which, shifts or changes.
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun-mLJrN-0Q Categories (other): People Disambiguation of People: 59 0 41 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  2. (linguistics) A word whose meaning changes depending on the situation, as by deixis.
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun--r8rTtGc Categories (other): Linguistics, English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons, English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymon, English terms suffixed with -er Disambiguation of English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons: 4 11 3 3 12 5 13 6 6 4 13 6 15 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 4 11 3 3 11 5 12 6 6 4 13 6 15 Disambiguation of English entries with etymon: 5 10 3 2 12 4 14 7 5 4 11 7 16 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -er: 5 9 8 7 9 6 10 8 6 9 11 3 7 Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
  3. (dated) Someone who plays tricks; a trickster. Tags: dated
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun--~JCH9wM
  4. (nautical) An assistant to the ship's cook in washing, soaking, and shifting the salt provisions.
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun-TA2CddJV Categories (other): Nautical Topics: nautical, transport
  5. (engineering) A control device (usually a lever or button) for shifting gears in a gearbox, or an arrangement for shifting a belt sidewise from one pulley to another.
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun-en:control_device Categories (other): Engineering, English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons, English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymon, English terms suffixed with -er, Pages with etymon Disambiguation of English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons: 4 11 3 3 12 5 13 6 6 4 13 6 15 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 4 11 3 3 11 5 12 6 6 4 13 6 15 Disambiguation of English entries with etymon: 5 10 3 2 12 4 14 7 5 4 11 7 16 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -er: 5 9 8 7 9 6 10 8 6 9 11 3 7 Disambiguation of Pages with etymon: 4 10 2 2 14 4 16 5 5 3 10 7 18 Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
  6. (engineering, textiles) A wire for changing a loop from one needle to another, as in narrowing, etc.
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun-jzryy668 Categories (other): Engineering, Textiles Topics: business, engineering, manufacturing, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, textiles
  7. (cycling) A component used by the rider to control the gearing mechanisms and select the desired gear ratio, usually connected to the derailleur by a mechanical actuation cable.
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun-R83NmWBo Categories (other): Cycling, English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons, English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymon, English terms suffixed with -er, Pages with etymon Disambiguation of English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons: 4 11 3 3 12 5 13 6 6 4 13 6 15 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 4 11 3 3 11 5 12 6 6 4 13 6 15 Disambiguation of English entries with etymon: 5 10 3 2 12 4 14 7 5 4 11 7 16 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -er: 5 9 8 7 9 6 10 8 6 9 11 3 7 Disambiguation of Pages with etymon: 4 10 2 2 14 4 16 5 5 3 10 7 18 Topics: cycling, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
  8. (especially Australia) A spanner with an adjustable jaw size. Wikidata QID: Q449109 Tags: Australia, especially Synonyms: shifting spanner, adjustable spanner
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun-en:Q449109 Categories (other): Australian English
  9. (mining, historical) A person employed to repair the horseways and other passages, and keep them unobstructed. Tags: historical
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun-uE5hhqJu Categories (other): Mining Topics: business, mining
  10. (US, Pennsylvania) A switcher or shunter: a railroad locomotive used for shunting. Tags: Pennsylvania, US
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun-DWLE-Nbj Categories (other): American English, Pennsylvania English
  11. (mythology, science fiction, fantasy) A shape-shifter; a person or other being capable of changing their physical form, especially a lycanthrope. Synonyms: changeling, shape-shifter, shapeshifter, shifter
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun-bulNJsBa Categories (other): Fantasy, Mythology, Science fiction, English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons, English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymon, English terms suffixed with -er, Pages with etymon Disambiguation of English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons: 4 11 3 3 12 5 13 6 6 4 13 6 15 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 4 11 3 3 11 5 12 6 6 4 13 6 15 Disambiguation of English entries with etymon: 5 10 3 2 12 4 14 7 5 4 11 7 16 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -er: 5 9 8 7 9 6 10 8 6 9 11 3 7 Disambiguation of Pages with etymon: 4 10 2 2 14 4 16 5 5 3 10 7 18 Topics: fantasy, human-sciences, literature, media, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, publishing, science-fiction, sciences
  12. A shiftworker.
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun-RsPxDSpu
  13. (spirituality) Ellipsis of reality shifter. Tags: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis Alternative form of: reality shifter
    Sense id: en-shifter-en-noun--wqV4cLN Categories (other): English entries referencing ambiguous etymons, English entries referencing missing etymons, English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons, English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymon, English entries with incorrect language header, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Pages with etymon Disambiguation of English entries referencing ambiguous etymons: 5 11 3 3 10 4 13 7 5 4 12 7 17 Disambiguation of English entries referencing missing etymons: 4 11 3 3 11 5 13 7 5 4 12 7 17 Disambiguation of English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons: 4 11 3 3 12 5 13 6 6 4 13 6 15 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 4 11 3 3 11 5 12 6 6 4 13 6 15 Disambiguation of English entries with etymon: 5 10 3 2 12 4 14 7 5 4 11 7 16 Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 5 10 1 1 12 5 13 6 5 2 13 8 19 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 5 11 2 2 12 4 14 6 6 3 11 8 18 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 2 12 1 1 11 3 14 6 5 1 12 9 22 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 5 11 1 1 11 3 14 6 5 1 11 9 22 Disambiguation of Pages with etymon: 4 10 2 2 14 4 16 5 5 3 10 7 18
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Related terms: stickshift

Inflected forms

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "barrel shifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "brifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "column shifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "day shifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "downshifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "frameshifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "graveyard shifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "left-handed smoke shifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "nymshifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "paddle shifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "phase shifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "quick shifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "quickshifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "sceneshifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "scene-shifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "shapeshifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "shifter cart"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "split shifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "swing shifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "video shifter"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "woodshifter"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "shift",
        "4": "-er",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "From shift + -er.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From shift + -er.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "shifters",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "shifter (plural shifters)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "stickshift"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "59 0 41 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "People",
          "orig": "en:People",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "One who, or that which, shifts or changes."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun-mLJrN-0Q",
      "links": [
        [
          "shifts",
          "shifts"
        ],
        [
          "changes",
          "changes"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Linguistics",
          "orig": "en:Linguistics",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 11 3 3 12 5 13 6 6 4 13 6 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 11 3 3 11 5 12 6 6 4 13 6 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 10 3 2 12 4 14 7 5 4 11 7 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 9 8 7 9 6 10 8 6 9 11 3 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -er",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              52,
              59
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1995, Richard Klein, “Introduction”, in Cigarettes are sublime, Paperback edition, Durham: Duke University Press, published 1993, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 9:",
          "text": "The cigarette is analogous to what linguists call a shifter, like the word I ; this device for expressing the irreducible particularity of my innermost self is universally available to every speaker and is thus the least particular thing in the world. The smoker manipulates the cigarette, like the word I, to tell stories to him/herself about him/herself — or to an other.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A word whose meaning changes depending on the situation, as by deixis."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun--r8rTtGc",
      "links": [
        [
          "linguistics",
          "linguistics"
        ],
        [
          "word",
          "word"
        ],
        [
          "meaning",
          "meaning"
        ],
        [
          "deixis",
          "deixis"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(linguistics) A word whose meaning changes depending on the situation, as by deixis."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "human-sciences",
        "linguistics",
        "sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              13,
              20
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1646 (indicated as 1645), John Milton, “On the Univerſity Carrier […] ”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], →OCLC, page 28:",
          "text": "'Twas ſuch a ſhifter, that if truth were known, / Death was half glad when he had got him down;",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Someone who plays tricks; a trickster."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun--~JCH9wM",
      "links": [
        [
          "tricks",
          "tricks"
        ],
        [
          "trickster",
          "trickster"
        ],
        [
          "Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary",
          "w:Webster's Dictionary#Webster's New International Dictionary 1909"
        ],
        [
          "G. & C. Merriam",
          "w:Merriam-Webster"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(dated) Someone who plays tricks; a trickster."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "dated"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Nautical",
          "orig": "en:Nautical",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An assistant to the ship's cook in washing, soaking, and shifting the salt provisions."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun-TA2CddJV",
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "assistant",
          "assistant"
        ],
        [
          "ship",
          "ship"
        ],
        [
          "cook",
          "cook"
        ],
        [
          "soak",
          "soak"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical) An assistant to the ship's cook in washing, soaking, and shifting the salt provisions."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Engineering",
          "orig": "en:Engineering",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 11 3 3 12 5 13 6 6 4 13 6 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 11 3 3 11 5 12 6 6 4 13 6 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 10 3 2 12 4 14 7 5 4 11 7 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 9 8 7 9 6 10 8 6 9 11 3 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -er",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 10 2 2 14 4 16 5 5 3 10 7 18",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A control device (usually a lever or button) for shifting gears in a gearbox, or an arrangement for shifting a belt sidewise from one pulley to another."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun-en:control_device",
      "links": [
        [
          "engineering",
          "engineering#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "lever",
          "lever"
        ],
        [
          "button",
          "button"
        ],
        [
          "shifting gears",
          "shift gears"
        ],
        [
          "gearbox",
          "gearbox"
        ],
        [
          "belt",
          "belt"
        ],
        [
          "sidewise",
          "sidewise"
        ],
        [
          "pulley",
          "pulley"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(engineering) A control device (usually a lever or button) for shifting gears in a gearbox, or an arrangement for shifting a belt sidewise from one pulley to another."
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "en:control device"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "engineering",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Engineering",
          "orig": "en:Engineering",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Textiles",
          "orig": "en:Textiles",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A wire for changing a loop from one needle to another, as in narrowing, etc."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun-jzryy668",
      "links": [
        [
          "engineering",
          "engineering#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "textiles",
          "textiles"
        ],
        [
          "wire",
          "wire"
        ],
        [
          "loop",
          "loop"
        ],
        [
          "needle",
          "needle"
        ],
        [
          "narrow",
          "narrow"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(engineering, textiles) A wire for changing a loop from one needle to another, as in narrowing, etc."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "business",
        "engineering",
        "manufacturing",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences",
        "textiles"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Cycling",
          "orig": "en:Cycling",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 11 3 3 12 5 13 6 6 4 13 6 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 11 3 3 11 5 12 6 6 4 13 6 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 10 3 2 12 4 14 7 5 4 11 7 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 9 8 7 9 6 10 8 6 9 11 3 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -er",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 10 2 2 14 4 16 5 5 3 10 7 18",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A component used by the rider to control the gearing mechanisms and select the desired gear ratio, usually connected to the derailleur by a mechanical actuation cable."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun-R83NmWBo",
      "links": [
        [
          "cycling",
          "cycling#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "component",
          "component"
        ],
        [
          "rider",
          "rider"
        ],
        [
          "gear ratio",
          "gear ratio"
        ],
        [
          "derailleur",
          "derailleur"
        ],
        [
          "mechanical",
          "mechanical"
        ],
        [
          "actuation",
          "actuation"
        ],
        [
          "cable",
          "cable"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(cycling) A component used by the rider to control the gearing mechanisms and select the desired gear ratio, usually connected to the derailleur by a mechanical actuation cable."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "cycling",
        "hobbies",
        "lifestyle",
        "sports"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Australian English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A spanner with an adjustable jaw size."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun-en:Q449109",
      "links": [
        [
          "spanner",
          "spanner"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(especially Australia) A spanner with an adjustable jaw size."
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "en:Q449109"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "shifting spanner"
        },
        {
          "word": "adjustable spanner"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Australia",
        "especially"
      ],
      "wikidata": [
        "Q449109"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Mining",
          "orig": "en:Mining",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A person employed to repair the horseways and other passages, and keep them unobstructed."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun-uE5hhqJu",
      "links": [
        [
          "mining",
          "mining#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "repair",
          "repair"
        ],
        [
          "horseway",
          "horseway"
        ],
        [
          "passage",
          "passage"
        ],
        [
          "unobstructed",
          "unobstructed"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mining, historical) A person employed to repair the horseways and other passages, and keep them unobstructed."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "historical"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "business",
        "mining"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "American English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pennsylvania English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A switcher or shunter: a railroad locomotive used for shunting."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun-DWLE-Nbj",
      "links": [
        [
          "switcher",
          "switcher"
        ],
        [
          "shunter",
          "shunter"
        ],
        [
          "railroad",
          "railroad"
        ],
        [
          "locomotive",
          "locomotive"
        ],
        [
          "shunt",
          "shunt"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(US, Pennsylvania) A switcher or shunter: a railroad locomotive used for shunting."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Pennsylvania",
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Fantasy",
          "orig": "en:Fantasy",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Mythology",
          "orig": "en:Mythology",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Science fiction",
          "orig": "en:Science fiction",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 11 3 3 12 5 13 6 6 4 13 6 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 11 3 3 11 5 12 6 6 4 13 6 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 10 3 2 12 4 14 7 5 4 11 7 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 9 8 7 9 6 10 8 6 9 11 3 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -er",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 10 2 2 14 4 16 5 5 3 10 7 18",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A shape-shifter; a person or other being capable of changing their physical form, especially a lycanthrope."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun-bulNJsBa",
      "links": [
        [
          "mythology",
          "mythology"
        ],
        [
          "science fiction",
          "science fiction"
        ],
        [
          "fantasy",
          "fantasy"
        ],
        [
          "shape-shifter",
          "shape-shifter"
        ],
        [
          "lycanthrope",
          "lycanthrope"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mythology, science fiction, fantasy) A shape-shifter; a person or other being capable of changing their physical form, especially a lycanthrope."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:shape-shifter",
          "word": "changeling"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:shape-shifter",
          "word": "shape-shifter"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:shape-shifter",
          "word": "shapeshifter"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:shape-shifter",
          "word": "shifter"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        "fantasy",
        "human-sciences",
        "literature",
        "media",
        "mysticism",
        "mythology",
        "philosophy",
        "publishing",
        "science-fiction",
        "sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A shiftworker."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun-RsPxDSpu",
      "links": [
        [
          "shiftworker",
          "shiftworker"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "reality shifter"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "5 11 3 3 10 4 13 7 5 4 12 7 17",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing ambiguous etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 11 3 3 11 5 13 7 5 4 12 7 17",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 11 3 3 12 5 13 6 6 4 13 6 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 11 3 3 11 5 12 6 6 4 13 6 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 10 3 2 12 4 14 7 5 4 11 7 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 10 1 1 12 5 13 6 5 2 13 8 19",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 11 2 2 12 4 14 6 6 3 11 8 18",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using etymon with no ID",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 12 1 1 11 3 14 6 5 1 12 9 22",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 11 1 1 11 3 14 6 5 1 11 9 22",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 10 2 2 14 4 16 5 5 3 10 7 18",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Ellipsis of reality shifter."
      ],
      "id": "en-shifter-en-noun--wqV4cLN",
      "links": [
        [
          "reality shifter",
          "reality shifter#English"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "spirituality",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(spirituality) Ellipsis of reality shifter."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "abbreviation",
        "alt-of",
        "ellipsis"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-shifter.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/0/0c/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-shifter.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-shifter.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/0/0c/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-shifter.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-shifter.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɪftə(ɹ)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "shifter"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English agent nouns",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries referencing ambiguous etymons",
    "English entries referencing missing etymons",
    "English entries referencing pages with etymology sections missing etymons",
    "English entries with etymology texts",
    "English entries with etymon",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms suffixed with -er",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymon",
    "Rhymes:English/ɪftə(ɹ)",
    "Rhymes:English/ɪftə(ɹ)/2 syllables",
    "en:People"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "barrel shifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "brifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "column shifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "day shifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "downshifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "frameshifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "graveyard shifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "left-handed smoke shifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "nymshifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "paddle shifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "phase shifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "quick shifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "quickshifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "sceneshifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "scene-shifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "shapeshifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "shifter cart"
    },
    {
      "word": "split shifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "swing shifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "video shifter"
    },
    {
      "word": "woodshifter"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "shift",
        "4": "-er",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "From shift + -er.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From shift + -er.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "shifters",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "shifter (plural shifters)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "stickshift"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "One who, or that which, shifts or changes."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "shifts",
          "shifts"
        ],
        [
          "changes",
          "changes"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "en:Linguistics"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              52,
              59
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1995, Richard Klein, “Introduction”, in Cigarettes are sublime, Paperback edition, Durham: Duke University Press, published 1993, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 9:",
          "text": "The cigarette is analogous to what linguists call a shifter, like the word I ; this device for expressing the irreducible particularity of my innermost self is universally available to every speaker and is thus the least particular thing in the world. The smoker manipulates the cigarette, like the word I, to tell stories to him/herself about him/herself — or to an other.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A word whose meaning changes depending on the situation, as by deixis."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "linguistics",
          "linguistics"
        ],
        [
          "word",
          "word"
        ],
        [
          "meaning",
          "meaning"
        ],
        [
          "deixis",
          "deixis"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(linguistics) A word whose meaning changes depending on the situation, as by deixis."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "human-sciences",
        "linguistics",
        "sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English dated terms",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              13,
              20
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1646 (indicated as 1645), John Milton, “On the Univerſity Carrier […] ”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], →OCLC, page 28:",
          "text": "'Twas ſuch a ſhifter, that if truth were known, / Death was half glad when he had got him down;",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Someone who plays tricks; a trickster."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "tricks",
          "tricks"
        ],
        [
          "trickster",
          "trickster"
        ],
        [
          "Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary",
          "w:Webster's Dictionary#Webster's New International Dictionary 1909"
        ],
        [
          "G. & C. Merriam",
          "w:Merriam-Webster"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(dated) Someone who plays tricks; a trickster."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "dated"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Nautical"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An assistant to the ship's cook in washing, soaking, and shifting the salt provisions."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "assistant",
          "assistant"
        ],
        [
          "ship",
          "ship"
        ],
        [
          "cook",
          "cook"
        ],
        [
          "soak",
          "soak"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical) An assistant to the ship's cook in washing, soaking, and shifting the salt provisions."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Engineering"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A control device (usually a lever or button) for shifting gears in a gearbox, or an arrangement for shifting a belt sidewise from one pulley to another."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "engineering",
          "engineering#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "lever",
          "lever"
        ],
        [
          "button",
          "button"
        ],
        [
          "shifting gears",
          "shift gears"
        ],
        [
          "gearbox",
          "gearbox"
        ],
        [
          "belt",
          "belt"
        ],
        [
          "sidewise",
          "sidewise"
        ],
        [
          "pulley",
          "pulley"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(engineering) A control device (usually a lever or button) for shifting gears in a gearbox, or an arrangement for shifting a belt sidewise from one pulley to another."
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "en:control device"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "engineering",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Engineering",
        "en:Textiles"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A wire for changing a loop from one needle to another, as in narrowing, etc."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "engineering",
          "engineering#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "textiles",
          "textiles"
        ],
        [
          "wire",
          "wire"
        ],
        [
          "loop",
          "loop"
        ],
        [
          "needle",
          "needle"
        ],
        [
          "narrow",
          "narrow"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(engineering, textiles) A wire for changing a loop from one needle to another, as in narrowing, etc."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "business",
        "engineering",
        "manufacturing",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences",
        "textiles"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Cycling"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A component used by the rider to control the gearing mechanisms and select the desired gear ratio, usually connected to the derailleur by a mechanical actuation cable."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "cycling",
          "cycling#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "component",
          "component"
        ],
        [
          "rider",
          "rider"
        ],
        [
          "gear ratio",
          "gear ratio"
        ],
        [
          "derailleur",
          "derailleur"
        ],
        [
          "mechanical",
          "mechanical"
        ],
        [
          "actuation",
          "actuation"
        ],
        [
          "cable",
          "cable"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(cycling) A component used by the rider to control the gearing mechanisms and select the desired gear ratio, usually connected to the derailleur by a mechanical actuation cable."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "cycling",
        "hobbies",
        "lifestyle",
        "sports"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Australian English"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A spanner with an adjustable jaw size."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "spanner",
          "spanner"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(especially Australia) A spanner with an adjustable jaw size."
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "en:Q449109"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "shifting spanner"
        },
        {
          "word": "adjustable spanner"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Australia",
        "especially"
      ],
      "wikidata": [
        "Q449109"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with historical senses",
        "en:Mining"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A person employed to repair the horseways and other passages, and keep them unobstructed."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "mining",
          "mining#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "repair",
          "repair"
        ],
        [
          "horseway",
          "horseway"
        ],
        [
          "passage",
          "passage"
        ],
        [
          "unobstructed",
          "unobstructed"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mining, historical) A person employed to repair the horseways and other passages, and keep them unobstructed."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "historical"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "business",
        "mining"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "American English",
        "Pennsylvania English"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A switcher or shunter: a railroad locomotive used for shunting."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "switcher",
          "switcher"
        ],
        [
          "shunter",
          "shunter"
        ],
        [
          "railroad",
          "railroad"
        ],
        [
          "locomotive",
          "locomotive"
        ],
        [
          "shunt",
          "shunt"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(US, Pennsylvania) A switcher or shunter: a railroad locomotive used for shunting."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Pennsylvania",
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Fantasy",
        "en:Mythology",
        "en:Science fiction"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A shape-shifter; a person or other being capable of changing their physical form, especially a lycanthrope."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "mythology",
          "mythology"
        ],
        [
          "science fiction",
          "science fiction"
        ],
        [
          "fantasy",
          "fantasy"
        ],
        [
          "shape-shifter",
          "shape-shifter"
        ],
        [
          "lycanthrope",
          "lycanthrope"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mythology, science fiction, fantasy) A shape-shifter; a person or other being capable of changing their physical form, especially a lycanthrope."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:shape-shifter",
          "word": "changeling"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:shape-shifter",
          "word": "shape-shifter"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:shape-shifter",
          "word": "shapeshifter"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:shape-shifter",
          "word": "shifter"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        "fantasy",
        "human-sciences",
        "literature",
        "media",
        "mysticism",
        "mythology",
        "philosophy",
        "publishing",
        "science-fiction",
        "sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A shiftworker."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "shiftworker",
          "shiftworker"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "reality shifter"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "English ellipses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Ellipsis of reality shifter."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "reality shifter",
          "reality shifter#English"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "spirituality",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(spirituality) Ellipsis of reality shifter."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "abbreviation",
        "alt-of",
        "ellipsis"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-shifter.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/0/0c/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-shifter.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-shifter.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/0/0c/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-shifter.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-shifter.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɪftə(ɹ)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "shifter"
}

Download raw JSONL data for shifter meaning in English (8.9kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-09-16 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-09-02 using wiktextract (d6fca27 and 65e1673). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.