Word: drive Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰreybʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *drībaną Proto-West Germanic *drīban Old English drīfan Middle English driven English drive From Middle English driven, from Old English drīfan (“to drive, force, move”), from Proto-West Germanic *drīban, from Proto-Germanic *drībaną (“to drive”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreybʰ- (“to drive, push”). Cognates Cognate with Scots drive (“to drive”), Yola dhreeve, dhrive, dreeve, drieve, drive (“to drive”), North Frisian driiv, driiw, driwe (“to drive”), West Frisian driuwe (“to drive; to float”), Alemannic German triibe (“to drive”), Dutch drijven (“to drive, push”), German treiben (“to drive, push, propel”), Low German drieven (“to drive, drift, push”), Luxembourgish dreiwen (“to drive, propel”), Yiddish טרײַבן (traybn, “to drive”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål drive (“to drive, propel”), Icelandic drífa (“to drive”), Norwegian Nynorsk driva, drive (“to drive, move; to propel; to run”), Swedish driva (“to drive, compel; to drift; to run”), Gothic 𐌳𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (dreiban, “to drive”). Pronunciation: /dɹaɪv/, [d̠ɹ̠ ̝(ʷ)aɪv], [d͡ʒɹaɪv], /dɹɑev/, [dɹɑe̯v] 1. Planned, usually long-lasting, effort to achieve something; ability coupled with ambition, determination, and motivation. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Crassus had wealth and wit, but Pompey had drive and Caesar as much again. Example: As we contemplate the half-finished arterial roads and electrification plans of our own age, and the town-planning schemes that gather dust in the public libraries, we can admire the drive and action of the railway pioneers. 2. Violent or rapid motion; a rushing onward or away; (especially) a forced or hurried dispatch of business. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The Murdstonian drive in business. 3. An act of driving (prompting) animals forward. Labels: broadly, countable, uncountable Example: Are you all ready?’ he cried, and set off towards the dead ash where the drive would begin. 4. An act of driving (prompting) animals forward. Labels: broadly, countable, uncountable 5. A sustained advance in the face of the enemy to take an objective. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Napoleon's drive on Moscow was as determined as it was disastrous. Example: On the other hand, in Eritrea (once our Forces had recaptured Kassala on January 19) the drive was generally eastward towards the capital, Asmara, and the Red Sea port of Massaua. 6. Certain mechanisms in vehicles. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: steam drive, nuclear drive, chain drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, front-wheel drive Example: Some old model trains have clockwork drives. 7. Certain mechanisms in vehicles. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: left-hand drive, right-hand drive 8. Certain mechanisms in vehicles. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Normally you should be in drive, although you can select a lower gear such as 2 or 1 for certain conditions, such as prolonged downhill stretches. 9. An act of piloting or riding within a vehicle (now generally in a motor vehicle). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The drive this morning was awful due to snow and ice. 10. An act of piloting or riding within a vehicle (now generally in a motor vehicle). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: It was a long drive to Santa Fe. Example: We merely waited to rouse good Mrs. Vesey from the place which she still occupied at the deserted luncheon-table, before we entered the open carriage for our promised drive. 11. An act of piloting or riding within a vehicle (now generally in a motor vehicle). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: We like to go for a drive on Sunday afternoons. 12. Certain surfaces for driving on. Labels: countable, dated, uncountable 13. Certain surfaces for driving on. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The mansion had a long, tree-lined drive. Example: We expressed our readiness, and in ten minutes were in the station wagon, rolling rapidly down the long drive, for it was then after nine. We passed on the way the van of the guests from Asquith. 14. Certain surfaces for driving on. Labels: capitalized, countable, uncountable Example: Beverly Hills’ most famous street is Rodeo Drive. 15. Desire or interest. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: 1995 March 2, John Carman, "Believe It, You Saw It in Sweeps", SFGate http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Believe-It-You-Saw-It-In-Sweeps-3043091.php On the latter show, former Playboy Playmate Carrie Westcott said she'd never met a man who could match her sexual drive. 16. A device for reading and writing data. Labels: countable, uncountable 17. A device for reading and writing data. Labels: countable, uncountable 18. The state of being under pressure, stressed and hurried. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I suffered under the intense drive of my new job. 19. A stroke made with a driver. Labels: countable, uncountable 20. A ball struck in a flat trajectory. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: a long drive 21. A type of shot played by swinging the bat in a vertical arc, through the line of the ball, and hitting it along the ground, normally between cover and midwicket. Labels: countable, uncountable 22. A straight level shot or pass. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: And after Rodallega missed two early opportunities, the first a header, the second a low drive easily held by Lukasz Fabianski, it was N'Zogbia who created the opening goal. 23. An offensive possession, generally one consisting of several plays and/ or first downs, often leading to a scoring opportunity. Labels: countable, uncountable 24. A charity event such as a fundraiser, bake sale, or toy drive. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: a fund-raising drive Example: a whist drive 25. A campaign aimed at selling or promoting (something). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: vaccination drive 26. An impression or matrix formed by a punch drift. Labels: countable, uncountable 27. A collection of objects that are driven. Labels: countable, uncountable 28. A collection of objects that are driven. Labels: countable, uncountable 29. Friendly term of address for a bus driver. Labels: UK, countable, slang, uncountable Example: Yeah, thanks, drive! You boyz all goin' shoppin'? We are, drive, says Chip. Example: The coaches dropped us where we had begun, outside the chapel; each child in turn piping up, 'Thank you, drive!' as we disembarked.