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English

drives

|drives|

A1

/draɪv/

(drive)

control movement

Base FormPluralPluralPlural3rd Person Sing.PastPast ParticiplePresent ParticipleNounAdjective
drivedriversdrovesdrivesdrivesdrovedrivendrivingdriverundriveable
Etymology
Etymology Information

'drive' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'drīfan', where the Proto-Germanic root '*drībaną' meant 'to push, to drive'.

Historical Evolution

'drive' changed from the Old English verb 'drīfan' and Middle English forms such as 'driven/driuen' and eventually became the modern English word 'drive'.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'to push, pursue, or force along' (often of animals or people); over time this extended to operating vehicles and many figurative senses such as 'motivate' or 'compel'.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a short trip or excursion in a vehicle (plural: short journeys).

They often take weekend drives in the countryside.

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Noun 2

innate impulses or motivations (multiple motivating forces).

Biological drives like hunger and thirst influence behavior.

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Noun 3

mechanical units that transmit or store power (plural of drive, e.g., hard drives).

The server contains multiple drives for storage.

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Verb 1

to operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle.

She drives to work every morning.

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Verb 2

to cause something to move or go in a particular direction; to propel or push.

The engine drives the wheels.

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Verb 3

to motivate, compel, or urge someone to act in a particular way.

Ambition drives her to succeed.

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Verb 4

to force or push something into a surface (as with a tool); to strike or hammer in.

He drives the nail into the board.

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Last updated: 2025/09/13 14:42