Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » drift

drift

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

A drift is a driving force or pressure, the ocean's movement due to winds and currents or a broad and shallow current that moves forward 10 to 15 miles per day. (noun)

An example of drift is the encouragement to keep moving through a difficulty.
An example or drift is a strong ocean current making it dangerous to swim.
An example of drift is a current moving 15 miles forward each day.

Drift means to be carried by currents or to wander aimlessly. (verb)

An example of drift is for a piece of wood to be dragged out to sea by the currents.
An example of drift is to constantly wander from village to village.

See drift in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

an act or instance of being driven or carried along, as by a current of air or water or by circumstances
the course on which something is directed or driven
the deviation of a ship, airplane, rocket, etc. from its path, caused by side currents or winds
1. the velocity of a current of water
2. a slow ocean current
1. a gradual shifting in position
2. a random course, variation, or deviation
a gradual movement or change in some direction or toward some end or purpose; trend; tendency
general meaning of what is said or done; intent; tenor
1. something driven, as rain, snow, or smoke driven before the wind, or floating matter driven by water currents
2. a heap of snow, sand, etc. piled up by the wind, or floating matter washed ashore
☆ Electronics a deviation or variation of a quantity, as voltage, from its assigned value
Geol. sand, gravel, boulders, etc. moved and deposited by a glacier or by water arising from its melting ice
Linguis. a gradual change along a certain line of development in the various elements of a language
Mech.
1. a tool used for ramming or driving down a heavy object
2. a tool for enlarging or shaping holes
Mining
1. a horizontal passageway driven into or along the path of a vein or rock layer
2. a small tunnel connecting two larger shafts

intransitive verb

to be carried along by or as by a current
to be carried along by circumstances; go along aimlessly
to wander about from place to place, from job to job, etc.
to accumulate in heaps by force of wind or water
to become heaped with drifting snow, sand, etc.
to move easily or gradually away from a set position
☆ West to range far afield in a drove, as in seeking pasture or escaping a storm: said of cattle

transitive verb

to cause to drift
to cover with drifts

Related Forms:

drifter noun

See drift in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(drĭft)

verb drift·ed, drift·ing, drifts

verb, intransitive

To be carried along by currents of air or water: a balloon drifting eastward; as the wreckage drifted toward shore.
To proceed or move unhurriedly and smoothly: drifting among the party guests.
To move leisurely or sporadically from place to place, especially without purpose or regular employment: a day laborer, drifting from town to town.
a. To wander from a set course or point of attention; stray.
b. To vary from or oscillate randomly about a fixed setting, position, or mode of operation.
To be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of a current: snow drifting to five feet.

verb, transitive

To cause to be carried in a current: drifting the logs downstream.
To pile up in banks or heaps: Wind drifted the loose straw against the barn.
Western U.S. To drive (livestock) slowly or far afield, especially for grazing.

noun

The act or condition of drifting.
Something moving along in a current of air or water.
A bank or pile, as of sand or snow, heaped up by currents of air or water.
Geology Rock debris transported and deposited by or from ice, especially by or from a glacier.
a. A general trend or tendency, as of opinion. See Synonyms at tendency.
b. General meaning or purport; tenor: caught the drift of the conversation.
a. A gradual change in position.
b. A gradual deviation from an original course, model, method, or intention.
c. Variation or random oscillation about a fixed setting, position, or mode of behavior.
A gradual change in the output of a circuit or amplifier.
The rate of flow of a water current.
a. A tool for ramming or driving something down.
b. A tapered steel pin for enlarging and aligning holes.
a. A horizontal or nearly horizontal passageway in a mine running through or parallel to a vein.
b. A secondary mine passageway between two main shafts or tunnels.
A drove or herd, especially of swine. See Synonyms at flock¹.