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makeshift. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
makeshift, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
makeshift in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
makeshift you have here. The definition of the word
makeshift will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
makeshift, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Alternative forms
Etymology 1
1680s. From the verb form make shift.
Pronunciation
Noun
makeshift (plural makeshifts)
- A temporary (usually insubstantial) substitution.
1923, Benjamin C. Marsh, “For the Community to Do”, in The World tomorrow, volume 6:Hoboism cannot be cured or prevented by makeshifts or by local measures and efforts, although community interest naturally is vital in dealing with a problem that comes home to every community.
Translations
Adjective
makeshift (comparative more makeshift, superlative most makeshift)
- Made to work or suffice; improvised; substituted.
- They used the ledge and a few branches for a makeshift shelter.
2012 May 26, Phil McNulty, “Norway 0-1 England”, in BBC Sport:Hodgson was able to introduce Arsenal teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for his debut late on as this makeshift England line-up closed out a victory that was solid for the most part without ever threatening to be spectacular.
Translations
made to work or suffice
- Arabic: please add this translation if you can
- Armenian: please add this translation if you can
- Catalan: provisional (ca)
- Chinese:
- Mandarin: 臨時代用的/临时代用的 (línshí dàiyòng de), 湊合的/凑合的 (zh) (còuhe de)
- Czech: provizorní (cs), dočasný (cs) m, improvizovaný (cs) m
- Dutch: provisorisch (nl), voorlopig (nl), geïmproviseerd (nl), nood-, tijdelijk (nl)
- Esperanto: please add this translation if you can
- Finnish: hätävara -, tilapäis-
- French: de fortune (fr)
- German: behelfsmäßig (de), provisorisch (de)
- Haitian Creole: fortin
- Hebrew: please add this translation if you can
- Hindi: कामचलाऊ (hi) (kāmaclāū), चलाऊ (hi) (calāū), जोड़-तोड़ (joṛ-toṛ)
- Hungarian: please add this translation if you can
- Italian: improvvisato (it), di fortuna, provvisorio (it), arraffazzonato
- Japanese: 間に合わせの (ja), 仮の (ja)
- Norwegian: nødløsning, improvisert
- Polish: prowizoryczny (pl) m
- Portuguese: improvisado (pt) m
- Romanian: provizoriu (ro)
- Russian: вре́менный (ru) (vrémennyj), импровизи́рованный (ru) (improvizírovannyj), самоде́льный (ru) (samodélʹnyj) (self-made, not manufactured)
- Scottish Gaelic: sealach
- Spanish: provisional (es)
- Swedish: provisorisk (sv)
- Thai: please add this translation if you can
- Turkish: please add this translation if you can
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Etymology 2
1560s. From make + shift.
Noun
makeshift (plural makeshifts)
- (obsolete) A rogue; a shifty person.
1592, Gabriel Harvey, “The First Letter”, in Four Letters and Certain Sonnets, new edition, London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, published 1814, A Due Commendation of the Quipping Author, page 2:Greene the coneycatcher, of this dream the author, / For his dainty devise deserveth the halter. / A rakehell, a makeshift, a scribbling fool; / A famous bayard in city and school: / Now sick as a dog, and ever brain-sick, / Where such a raving and desperate Dick?
Synonyms
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