makeshift

English

Etymology

From make +‎ shift.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈmeɪkˌʃɪft/, X-SAMPA: /"meIk%SIft/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

makeshift (plural makeshifts)

1. A temporary, usually insubstantial, substitution for something else.
   • 1871–72, George Eliot, Middlemarch, Chapter 17

     I am not a model clergyman, only a decent makeshift.

Translations

A temporary, usually insubstantial, substitution for something else

• Finnish: hätävara (fi)
• German: Provisorium (de) n, Notlösung (de) f, Notbehelf (de) m
• Polish: prowizorka (pl) f
• Portuguese: improviso (pt) m

• Russian: временная замена (ru) (vrémennaja zaména) f, временное приспособление (ru) (vrémennoje prisposoblénije) n
• Spanish: apaño (es) m, improvisación (es) f

Adjective

makeshift (comparative more makeshift, superlative most makeshift)

1. Made to work or suffice; improvised; substituted.

   They used the ledge and a few branches for a makeshift shelter.

   • 2012 May 26 2012, Phil McNulty, “Norway 0-1 England”, 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; improvised; substituted

• Catalan: provisional (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 湊合的 (cmn), 凑合的 (cmn) (còuhe de)

• Finnish: hätävara - (fi), tilapäis- (fi)
• German: behelfsmäßig (de), provisorisch (de)
• Norwegian: nødløsning (no), improvisert (no)
• Polish: prowizoryczny (pl) m

• Portuguese: improvisado (pt) m
• Russian: временный (ru) (vrémennyj), импровизированный (ru) (improvizírovannyj), самодельный (ru) (samodélʹnyj) (seld-made, not manufactured)
• Scottish Gaelic: sealach (gd)
• Spanish: provisional (es)

See also

• make shift