noun. a force that moves something along |
noun. the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane) |
noun. a process of linguistic change over a period of time |
noun. a large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents |
noun. a general tendency to change (as of opinion) not openly liberal but that is the trend of the book|a broad movement of the electorate to the right |
noun. the pervading meaning or tenor caught the general drift of the conversation |
noun. a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine they dug a drift parallel with the vein |
verb. be in motion due to some air or water current The leaves were blowing in the wind|the boat drifted on the lake|The sailboat was adrift on the open sea|the shipwrecked boat drifted away from the shore |
verb. wander from a direct course or at random The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her|don't drift from the set course |
verb. move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment The gypsies roamed the woods|roving vagabonds|the wandering Jew|The cattle roam across the prairie|the laborers drift from one town to the next|They rolled from town to town Synonym: wander, vagabond, tramp, swan, stray, rove, roll, roam, range, ramble, cast |
verb. vary or move from a fixed point or course stock prices are drifting higher |
verb. live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school |
verb. move in an unhurried fashion The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests |
verb. cause to be carried by a current drift the boats downstream |
verb. drive slowly and far afield for grazing drift the cattle herds westwards |
verb. be subject to fluctuation The stock market drifted upward |
verb. be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current snow drifting several feet high|sand drifting like snow |
