veer¹ / vi(ə)r/ • v. [intr.] change direction suddenly: an oil tanker that had veered off course. ∎ fig. suddenly change an opinion, subject, type of behavior, etc.: the conversation eventually veered away from theatrical things. ∎  (of the wind) change direction clockwise around the points of the compass: the wind veered southwest.The opposite of back.• n. a sudden change of direction. veer² • v. [tr.] dated Naut. slacken or let out (a rope or cable) in a controlled way.

veer2 change course or direction (spec. clock-wise) of wind. XVI. — (O)F. virer :- Rom. *vīrāre, perh. alt. of L. gȳrāre GYRATE, by assoc. with a verb beginning with v, e.g. vertere turn or vibrāre shake.

veer1 †run out (a line) XV; allow to drift further off XVI; pay out (a cable) XVII. — (M)Du. vieren let out, slacken.