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

Nor was it the fact that the driver of the car then defaulted on that loan.

Read more on MarketWatch

Access to care is also the biggest driver for people leaving Medicare Advantage to switch to traditional Medicare, the study found.

Read more on Science Daily

They thanked the bus driver, also a woman.

Read more on Salon

"It was a tough event obviously," said Welsh driver Evans, who finished sixth in Saudi Arabia but did win the final stage to also collect nine final-day bonus points.

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Ogier's exploit was all the more remarkable as he was competing as a 'part-time' driver this year, skipping three of the 14 rallies.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• chauffeur 
• jockey 
• motorist 
• operator 
• trainer