magnetic tape unit , drive n a computer device that moves reels of magnetic tape past read-write heads so that data can be transferred to or from the computer
acquired drive
n (Psychol) a drive, like the desire for money, that has not been inherited but is learned, presumably because it leads to the satisfaction of innate drives
beetle drive
n a social occasion at which a progressive series of games of beetle is played
See →
beetle 1 →
2
belt drive
n (Engineering) a transmission system using a flexible belt to transfer power
chain drive
n (Engineering) a chain of links passing over sprockets that transmits rotation from one shaft to another
disk drive
n (Computing) the controller and mechanism for reading and writing data on computer disks
See also →
disk →
2
drive
vb , drives, driving, drove , driven
1 to push, propel, or be pushed or propelled
2 to control and guide the movement of (a vehicle, draught animal, etc.)
to drive a car
3 tr to compel or urge to work or act, esp. excessively
4 tr to goad or force into a specified attitude or state
work drove him to despair
5 tr to cause (an object) to make or form (a hole, crack, etc.)
his blow drove a hole in the wall
6 to move or cause to move rapidly by striking or throwing with force
7 (Sport) to hit (a ball) very hard and straight, as (in cricket) with the bat swinging more or less vertically
8 (Golf) to strike (the ball) with a driver, as in teeing off
a to chase (game) from cover into more open ground
b to search (an area) for game
10 to transport or be transported in a driven vehicle
11 intr to rush or dash violently, esp. against an obstacle or solid object
the waves drove against the rock
12 tr to carry through or transact with vigour (esp. in the phrase drive a hard bargain)
13 tr to force (a component) into or out of its location by means of blows or a press
14 tr (Mining) to excavate horizontally
15 tr (N.Z.) to fell (a tree or trees) by the impact of another felled tree
a to cause to penetrate to the fullest extent
b to make clear by special emphasis
n
18 a trip or journey in a driven vehicle
a a road for vehicles, esp. a private road leading to a house
b (cap. when part of a street name)
Woodland Drive
20 vigorous or urgent pressure, as in business
21 a united effort, esp. directed towards a common goal
a charity drive
22 (Brit) a large gathering of persons to play cards, etc.
See →
beetle drive →
whist drive
23 energy, ambition, or initiative
24 (Psychol) a motive or interest, such as sex, hunger, or ambition, that actuates an organism to attain a goal
25 a sustained and powerful military offensive
a the means by which force, torque, motion, or power is transmitted in a mechanism
fluid drive
b (as modifier)
a drive shaft
27 (Sport) a hard straight shot or stroke
28 a search for and chasing of game towards waiting guns
29 (Electronics) the signal applied to the input of an amplifier
(Old English drifan; related to Old Frisian driva, Old Norse drifa, Gothic dreiban, Old High German triban)
♦
drivable, driveable adj
♦
drivability, driveability n
drive at
vb intr, prep
Informal to intend or mean
what are you driving at?
drive-by shooting
n an incident in which a person, building, or vehicle is shot at by someone in a moving vehicle, (Sometimes shortened to)
drive-by
drive-in
n (Chiefly U.S. and Canadian)
a a cinema designed to be used by patrons seated in their cars
b modifier a public facility or service designed for use in such a manner
a drive-in restaurant, a drive-in bank
drive shaft
n another name for →
propeller shaft
drive-thru
n
a a takeaway restaurant, bank, etc. designed so that customers can use it without leaving their cars
b (as modifier)
a drive-thru restaurant
drive-time
n
a the time of day when many people are driving to or from work, regarded as a broadcasting slot
b (as modifier)
the daily drive-time show
fluid drive
n a type of coupling for transmitting power from the engine of a motor vehicle to the transmission, using a torque converter, (Also called)
fluid coupling, fluid clutch, fluid flywheel
four-wheel drive
n a system used in motor vehicles in which all four wheels are connected to the source of power
motor drive
n (Photog) a battery-operated motorized system to give fast film advance between exposures
Compare →
autowinder
self-drive
adj denoting or relating to a hired car that is driven by the hirer
test-drive
vb tr , -drives, -driving, -drove, -driven to drive (a car or other motor vehicle) for a limited period in order to assess its capabilities and limitations
whist drive
n a social gathering where whist is played; the winners of each hand move to different tables to play the losers of the previous hand