Definition of "shifter"

One who, or that which, shifts or changes.  examples

(linguistics) A word whose meaning changes depending on the situation, as by deixis.  quotations  examples

(dated) Someone who plays tricks; a trickster.  quotations  examples

(nautical) An assistant to the ship's cook in washing, soaking, and shifting the salt provisions.  examples

(engineering) An arrangement for shifting a belt sidewise from one pulley to another.  examples

(engineering, textiles) A wire for changing a loop from one needle to another, as in narrowing, etc.  examples

(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.  examples

A spanner with an adjustable jaw size.  examples

(mining, historical) A person employed to repair the horseways and other passages, and keep them unobstructed.

(US, Pennsylvania) A switcher or shunter: a railroad locomotive used for shunting.  examples

(mythology, science fiction, fantasy) A shape-shifter, or a person or other being capable of changing their physical form.

(erotica) A genre of erotica focusing on lycanthropes or other shapeshifters, such as werewolves.  examples

A shiftworker.  examples

(spirituality) Short for reality shifter.  examples