shifter Synonyms
Another word for shifter
• noun (Context 1)
A mechanical lever or control device used to change gears in a motor vehicle or on a bicycle.
"The cyclist adjusted the handlebar gearshift to climb the steep hill more easily."
• noun (Context 2)
In folklore, fantasy, and speculative fiction, a supernatural being or creature capable of physically transforming its bodily form into that of another person or animal.
"The fantasy novel centers on a clan of wolf shifters living secretly at the edge of the forest."
• noun (Context 3)
A person or device that moves, transfers, or rearranges objects from one place or position to another (such as a scene shifter in a theater).
"A team of stage shifters worked quickly in the dark to replace the heavy backdrop between acts."
• noun (Context 4)
In linguistics, a word or grammatical element (such as a personal pronoun or demonstrative) whose specific referent changes depending on the speaker, time, or context of the utterance.
"Pronouns like 'I' and 'you' are classic shifters because their meaning reverses each time a new person speaks."
• noun (Context 5)
An adjustable wrench or spanner with a movable jaw used for gripping and turning nuts and bolts of various sizes.
"He reached into his toolbox for a adjustable wrench to loosen the rusted plumbing nut."