Drift - Definition

n 1: a force that moves something along [syn: drift,
impetus, impulsion]
2: the gradual departure from an intended course due to external
influences (as a ship or plane)
3: a process of linguistic change over a period of time
4: a large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by
water currents
5: 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" [syn: drift, trend,
movement]
6: the pervading meaning or tenor; "caught the general drift of
the conversation" [syn: drift, purport]
7: a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine;
"they dug a drift parallel with the vein" [syn: drift,
heading, gallery]
v 1: 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" [syn: float, drift,
be adrift, blow]
2: 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" [syn: stray, err, drift]
3: 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" [syn: roll,
wander, swan, stray, tramp, roam, cast, ramble,
rove, range, drift, vagabond]
4: vary or move from a fixed point or course; "stock prices are
drifting higher"
5: live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely; "My son drifted
around for years in California before going to law school"
[syn: freewheel, drift]
6: move in an unhurried fashion; "The unknown young man drifted
among the invited guests"
7: cause to be carried by a current; "drift the boats
downstream"
8: drive slowly and far afield for grazing; "drift the cattle
herds westwards"
9: be subject to fluctuation; "The stock market drifted upward"
10: be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a
current; "snow drifting several feet high"; "sand drifting
like snow"