Veering

veer ¹  (vîr)

v. veered, veer·ing, veers

v.intr.

1. To turn aside from a course, direction, or purpose; swerve: "a sequence of adventures that veered between tragedy and bleak farce" (Anthony Haden-Guest). See Synonyms at swerve.

2. To shift clockwise in direction, as from north to northeast. Used of the wind.

3. Nautical To change the course of a ship by turning the stern to the wind while advancing to windward; wear ship.

v.tr.

1. To alter the direction of; turn: veered the car sharply to the left.

2. Nautical To change the course of (a ship) by turning the stern windward.

n.

A change in direction; a swerve.

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[French virer, from Old French.]

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veer ²  (vîr)

tr.v. veered, veer·ing, veers Nautical

To let out or release (a line or an anchor train).

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[Middle English veren, from Middle Dutch vieren; see per¹ in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

veering - the act of turning aside suddenly     swerve, swerving turning, turn - the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course; "he took a turn to the right"