drift
noun
\ ˈdrift
\
\
Definition of drift
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: the act of driving something along
b
: the flow or the velocity of the current of a river or ocean stream
2
: something driven, propelled, or urged along or drawn together in a clump by or as if by a natural agency: such as
a
: wind-driven snow, rain, cloud, dust, or smoke usually at or near the ground surface
b(1)
: a mass of matter (such as sand) deposited together by or as if by wind or water
(2)
: a helter-skelter accumulation
d
: something (such as driftwood) washed ashore
e
: rock debris deposited by natural agents
specifically
: a deposit of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders transported by a glacier or by running water from a glacier
3a
: a general underlying design or tendency
perceiving the drift of the government's policies
b
: the underlying meaning, import, or purport of what is spoken or written
the drift of a conversation
4
: something (such as a tool) driven down upon or forced into a body
5
: the motion or action of drifting especially spatially and usually under external influence: such as
a
: the lateral motion of an aircraft due to air currents
b
: an easy moderate more or less steady flow or sweep along a spatial course
c
: a gradual shift in attitude, opinion, or position
d
: an aimless course
especially
: a forgoing of any attempt at direction or control
e
: a deviation from a true reproduction, representation, or reading
especially
: a gradual change in the zero reading of an instrument or in any quantitative characteristic that is supposed to remain constant
6a
: a nearly horizontal mine passageway driven on or parallel to the course of a vein or rock stratum
b
: a small crosscut in a mine connecting two larger tunnels
7a
: an assumed trend toward a general change in the structure of a language over a period of time
b
: genetic drift
8
: a grouping of similar flowers planted in an elongated mass
drift
verb
drifted;
drifting;
drifts
Definition of drift (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: to become driven or carried along (as by a current of water, wind, or air)
a balloon drifting in the wind
b
: to move or float smoothly and effortlessly
2a
: to move along a line of least resistance
b
: to move in a random or casual way
c
: to become carried along subject to no guidance or control
the talk drifted from topic to topic
3a
: to accumulate in a mass or become piled up in heaps by wind or water
drifting snow
b
: to become covered with a drift
4
: to vary or deviate from a set course or adjustment
1a
: to cause to be driven in a current
b
Western US
: to drive (livestock) slowly especially to allow grazing
2a
: to pile in heaps
b
: to cover with drifts
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Other Words from drift
Noun
drifty
\ ˈdrif-​tē
\
adjective
\
adjective
Verb
driftingly
\ ˈdrif-​tiŋ-​lē
\
adverb
\
adverb
