intransitive verb

1. to change direction; shift; turn or swing around
2. to change sides; shift, as from one opinion or attitude to another
3. Meteorol. to shift clockwise (in the Northern Hemisphere): said of the changing direction of a wind
4. Naut.
   1. to change the direction or course of a ship by swinging its stern to the wind; wear a ship
   2. to be so turned: said of a ship

Etymology: altered (by assoc. with veer) < Fr virer, to turn around, prob. < VL *virare, contr. < L vibrare: see vibrate

transitive verb

1. to turn or swing; change the course of
2. Naut. to change the direction or course of (a ship) by swinging its stern to the wind; wear

noun