functional shift


functional shift

n. A shift in the syntactic function of a word, as when a noun serves as a verb.

func′tional shift′


n. a change in the grammatical function of a word, as in the use of the noun input as a verb.

functional shift

- The process by which words change parts of speech without the addition of a prefix or suffix, as in soldier on, the verb, being created from soldier, the noun.See also related terms for soldier.