driver

[drahy-ver]

noun

1. a person or thing that drives.

2. a person who drives a vehicle; coachman, chauffeur, etc.

3. a person who drives an animal or animals, as a drover or cowboy.

4. Also called number one wood. Golf.,  a club with a wooden head whose face has almost no slope, for hitting long, low drives from the tee.

5. Machinery.

   1. a part that transmits force or motion.

   2. the member of a pair of connected pulleys, gears, etc., that is nearer to the power source.

6. Computers.,  software or hardware that controls the interface between a computer and a peripheral device.

7. Railroads.,  driving wheel.

8. British.,  a locomotive engineer.

9. Audio.

   1. the part of a loudspeaker that transforms the electrical signal into sound.

   2. the entire loudspeaker.

10. Nautical.

    1. a jib-headed spanker sail.

    2. a designation given to one of the masts abaft the mizzen on a sailing vessel having more than three masts, either the fifth or sixth from forward.

driver

/ ˈdraɪvə /

noun

1. a person who drives a vehicle

2. in a position of control

3. a person who drives animals

4. a mechanical component that exerts a force on another to produce motion

5. golf a club, a No. 1 wood, with a large head and deep face for tee shots

6. electronics a circuit whose output provides the input of another circuit

7. computing a computer program that controls a device

8. something that creates and fuels activity, or gives force or impetus

Other Word Forms

• driverless adjective
• nondriver noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of driver¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, driver is from the Middle English word drivere. See drive, -er ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see backseat driver; in the driver's seat.

Example Sentences

Democrats have historically been in the driver’s seat when it comes to health care.

Read more on Salon

That is largely because the main drivers of spending kept rising: social programs, including Social Security and Medicare, and interest on the public debt, which topped $1 trillion by one measure for the first time.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

FSD is Tesla’s highest-level driver assistance technology that is capable of doing most driving tasks most of the time.

Read more on Barron's

Common wisdom dictated that the longer driver of a pair should tee off on the odd numbered holes because of how those in particular tended to favor power.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Eleven of 12 economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had predicted another move lower in October, citing continued economic weakness amid higher U.S. tariffs and lackluster tourism—a key growth driver.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• chauffeur 
• jockey 
• motorist 
• operator 
• trainer