drift
Nouns
- (n) a force that moves something along impetus, impulsion,
- (n) the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)
- (n) a process of linguistic change over a period of time
- (n) a large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents
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(n) 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
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(n) the pervading meaning or tenor
- caught the general drift of the conversation
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(n) a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine
- they dug a drift parallel with the vein
Verbs
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(v) 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
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(v) 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
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(v) 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
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(v) vary or move from a fixed point or course
- stock prices are drifting higher
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(v) live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely
- My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school
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(v) move in an unhurried fashion
- The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests
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(v) cause to be carried by a current
- drift the boats downstream
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(v) drive slowly and far afield for grazing
- drift the cattle herds westwards
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(v) be subject to fluctuation
- The stock market drifted upward
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(v) be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current
- snow drifting several feet high
- sand drifting like snow