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veer

1
[ veer ]
/ vɪər /
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See synonyms for: veer / veered / veering on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
to change direction or turn about or aside; shift, turn, or change from one course, position, inclination, etc., to another: The speaker kept veering from his main topic. The car veered off the road.
(of the wind)
  1. to change direction clockwise (opposed to back1 def. 31).
  2. Nautical. to shift to a direction more nearly astern (opposed to haul def. 8c).
verb (used with object)
to alter the direction or course of; turn.
Nautical. to turn (a vessel) away from the wind; wear.
noun
a change of direction, position, course, etc.: a sudden veer in a different direction.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Origin of veer

1
First recorded in 1575–85, veer is from the Middle French word virer to turn

OTHER WORDS FROM veer

veer·ing·ly, adverb

Other definitions for veer (2 of 2)

veer2
[ veer ]
/ vɪər /

verb (used with object) Nautical.
to slacken or let out: to veer chain.

Origin of veer

2
1425–75; late Middle English vere<Middle Dutch vieren to let out
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use veer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for veer (1 of 2)

veer1
/ (vɪə) /

verb
to alter direction (of); swing around
(intr) to change from one position, opinion, etc, to another
(intr)
  1. (of the wind) to change direction clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the southern
  2. nautical to blow from a direction nearer the sternCompare haul (def. 5)
nautical to steer (a vessel) off the wind
noun
a change of course or direction

Word Origin for veer

C16: from Old French virer, probably of Celtic origin; compare Welsh gwyro to diverge

British Dictionary definitions for veer (2 of 2)

veer2
/ (vɪə) /

verb
(tr; often foll by out or away) nautical to slacken or pay out (cable or chain)

Word Origin for veer

C16: from Dutch vieren, from Old High German fieren to give direction
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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