Definition of 'drift'

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Noun

1. a force that moves something along
      Synonyms: 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. something 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"
      Synonyms: trend movement
6. the pervading meaning or tenor; "caught the general drift of the conversation"
      Synonyms: purport
7. a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine; "they dug a drift parallel with the vein"
      Synonyms: heading gallery

Verb

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"
      Synonyms: float 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"
      Synonyms: stray err
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"
      Synonyms: roll wander swan stray tramp roam cast ramble rove range 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"
      Synonyms: freewheel
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"

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