drive
verb
\ ˈdrīv
\
\
drove\ ˈdrōv
\;
driven\ ˈdri-vən
\;
driving\ ˈdrī-viŋ
\
\;
driven\ ˈdri-vən
\;
driving\ ˈdrī-viŋ
\
Definition of drive
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: to frighten or prod (game, cattle, etc.) into moving in a desired direction
drive cattle across the prairie
b
hunting
: to go through (an area) driving game animals
drive the other side of the mountain
2
: to carry on or through energetically
drives a hard bargain
3a
: to impart a forward motion to by physical force
Waves drove the boat ashore. drive the nail into the beam
b
: to repulse, remove, or cause to go by force, authority, or influence
drive the enemy back
c
: to set or keep in motion or operation
drive machinery by electricity
d
basketball
: to move quickly and forcefully down or along
drive the lane drive the baseline
4a
: to direct the motions and course of (a draft animal)
drive an ox
b
: to operate the mechanism and controls and direct the course of (a vehicle)
drive a car
c
: to convey in a vehicle
His father drove me home.
d
: to float (logs) down a stream
5a
: to exert inescapable or coercive pressure on : force
driven by his passions
b
: to compel to undergo or suffer a change (as in situation or emotional state)
drove him crazy drove her out of business
c
: to urge relentlessly to continuous exertion
the sergeant drove his recruits
d
: to press or force into an activity, course, or direction
The drug habit drives addicts to steal.
e
: to project, inject, or impress incisively
drove her point home
6
mining
: to force (a passage) by pressing or digging
drive a tunnel
7a
: to propel (an object of play) swiftly or forcefully
drove a long fly ball to the warning track
b
golf
: to hit (a ball) from the tee especially with a driver (see driver sense f)
drove the ball down the fairway
also
: to drive a golf ball onto (a green)
c
baseball
: to cause (a run or runner) to be scored (see score entry 2 sense 4a(2))
—usually used with in drove him in with a single
8
: to give shape or impulse to
factors that drive the business cycle the ideas that have driven history
1a
: to dash, plunge, or surge ahead rapidly or violently
rudely drove past her
b
: to progress with strong momentum
the rain was driving hard
c
basketball
: to make a quick and forceful move
driving to the hoop
2a
: to operate a vehicle
learned to drive at the age of seventeen
b
: to have oneself carried in a vehicle
drove to Canada as a kid
3
golf
: to drive a golf ball
drove down the fairway
drive at
: to intend to express, convey, or accomplish
couldn't understand what she was driving at
Definition of drive (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: an act of driving:
a
: a trip in a carriage or automobile
a short drive to the coast
b
: an instance of collecting and moving animals (such as game or cattle) together in a desired direction
also
: the animals gathered and driven (see drive entry 1 sense transitive 1a)
c
: a driving of cattle or sheep overland
d
: a hunt or shoot in which the game is driven within the hunter's range
e
: the guiding of logs downstream to a mill
also
: the floating logs amassed in a drive
f(1)
: the act or an instance of propelling an object of play (such as a golf ball) swiftly or forcefully
(2)
: the flight of a ball
a high drive to left field
2a
: a private road : driveway
b
: a public road for driving (as in a park)
3
: the state of being hurried and under pressure
elude the ruthless drive of work and worry— S. H. Adams
4a
: a strong systematic group effort
a fund-raising drive
b
: a sustained offensive (see offensive entry 1 sense 1) effort
the drive ended in a touchdown
5a
mechanical engineering
: the means for giving motion to a machine or machine part
b
: the means by which the propulsive power of an automobile is applied to the road
front wheel drive
c
: the means by which the propulsion of an automotive vehicle is controlled and directed
a left-hand drive
6a
: an offensive, aggressive, or expansionist move
especially
: a strong military attack against enemy-held terrain
b
basketball
: a quick and aggressive move toward the basket
7a
biology
: an urgent, basic, or instinctual need : a motivating physiological condition of an organism
a sexual drive
b
: an impelling culturally acquired concern, interest, or longing
the drive to succeed
c
: dynamic quality
his drive and enthusiasm overcame all obstacles — Times Literary Supplement
8
computers
: a device for reading or writing on magnetic, optical, or electronic media (such as tapes, disks, or flash memory)