drift

Plural: drifts

Noun

• a force that moves something along
• the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)
• a process of linguistic change over a period of time
• a large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents
• a general tendency to change (as of opinion)
• the pervading meaning or tenor
  • "caught the general drift of the conversation"
• a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine
  • "they dug a drift parallel with the vein"
• Movement; that which moves or is moved.
• Anything driven at random.
• Movement; that which moves or is moved.
• A mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc., especially by wind or water.
• When the car rotates at 180 degrees or more causing smoke to rise especially at car events.
• When the car rotates at 180 degrees or more causing smoke to rise especially at car events.
• The distance through which a current flows in a given time.
• When the car rotates at 180 degrees or more causing smoke to rise especially at car events.
• A drove or flock, as of cattle, sheep, birds.
• When the car rotates at 180 degrees or more causing smoke to rise especially at car events.
• A collection of loose earth and rocks, or boulders, which have been distributed over large portions of the earth's surface, especially in latitudes north of forty degrees, by the retreat of continental glaciers, such as that which buries former river valleys and creates young river valleys.
• When the car rotates at 180 degrees or more causing smoke to rise especially at car events.
• Driftwood included in flotsam washed up onto the beach.
• When the car rotates at 180 degrees or more causing smoke to rise especially at car events.
• A driving; a violent movement.
• When the car rotates at 180 degrees or more causing smoke to rise especially at car events.
• Course or direction along which anything is driven; setting.
• When the car rotates at 180 degrees or more causing smoke to rise especially at car events.
• That which is driven, forced, or urged along.
• The act or motion of drifting; the force which impels or drives; an overpowering influence or impulse.
• A place (a ford) along a river where the water is shallow enough to permit crossing to the opposite side.
• The tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention; hence, also, import or meaning of a sentence or discourse; aim.
• The horizontal thrust or pressure of an arch or vault upon the abutments.
• A tool.
• A slightly tapered tool of steel for enlarging or shaping a hole in metal, by being forced or driven into or through it; a broach.
• A tool.
• A tool used to pack down the composition contained in a rocket, or like firework.
• A tool.
• A tool used to insert or extract a removable pin made of metal or hardwood, for the purpose of aligning and/or securing two pieces of material together.
• A deviation from the line of fire, peculiar to obloid projectiles.
• Minor deviation of audio or video playback from its correct speed.
• The situation where a performer gradually and unintentionally moves from their proper location within the scene.
• A passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway; a small subterranean gallery.
• An adit or tunnel driven forward for purposes of exploration or exploitation; generally eventually to a dead end.
• A sloping winze or road to the surface, for purposes of haulage.
• In a coal mine, a heading driven for exploration or ventilation.
• Of a boring or a driven tunnel: deviation from the intended course.
• A heading driven through a seam of coal.
• Movement.
• The angle which the line of a ship's motion makes with the meridian, in drifting.
• Movement.
• The distance a vessel is carried off from her desired course by the wind, currents, or other causes.
• Movement.
• The place in a deep-waisted vessel where the sheer is raised and the rail is cut off, and usually terminated with a scroll, or driftpiece.
• Movement.
• The distance between the two blocks of a tackle.
• Movement.
• The difference between the size of a bolt and the hole into which it is driven, or between the circumference of a hoop and that of the mast on which it is to be driven.
• A sideways movement of the ball through the air, when bowled by a spin bowler.
• Slow, cumulative change.
• In New Forest National Park, UK, the bi-annual round-up of wild ponies in order to be sold.

Verb

Verb Forms: drifted, drifting, drifts

• To be carried along by currents of air or water.
• be in motion due to some air or water current
  • "the boat drifted on the lake"
  • "The sailboat was adrift on the open sea"
  • "the shipwrecked boat drifted away from the shore"
• wander from a direct course or at random
  • "don't drift from the set course"
• move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
  • "the laborers drift from one town to the next"
• vary or move from a fixed point or course
  • "stock prices are drifting higher"
• live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely
  • "My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school"
• move in an unhurried fashion
  • "The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests"
• cause to be carried by a current
  • "drift the boats downstream"
• drive slowly and far afield for grazing
  • "drift the cattle herds westwards"
• be subject to fluctuation
  • "The stock market drifted upward"
• be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current
  • "snow drifting several feet high"
  • "sand drifting like snow"
• To move slowly, especially pushed by currents of water, air, etc.
• To move haphazardly without any destination.
• To deviate gently from the intended direction of travel.
• To drive or carry, as currents do a floating body.
• To drive into heaps.
• To accumulate in heaps by the force of wind; to be driven into heaps.
• To make a drift; to examine a vein or ledge for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of metals or ores; to follow a vein; to prospect.
• To enlarge or shape, as a hole, with a drift.
• To oversteer a vehicle, causing loss of traction, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner. See Drifting (motorsport).

Examples

• A current of wind drifts snow or sand
• a drift of snow, of ice, of sand, of plants, etc.
• genetic drift
• He drifted from town to town, never settling down.
• He was practising drifting with his new car.
• His strategy seemed to drift aimlessly, lacking direction and high scores.
• Snow or sand drifts.
• The balloon was drifting in the breeze.
• The boat drifted away from the shore.
• This car tends to drift left at high speeds.

Synonyms

be adrift, blow, cast, err, float, freewheel, gallery, heading, impetus, impulsion, movement, purport, ramble, range, roam, roll, rove, stray, swan, tramp, trend, vagabond, wander, swerve

Anagrams of drift