Main Entry: ¹drift

Pronunciation: \ˈdrift\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English; akin to Old English drīfan to drive — more at drive

Date: 14th century

1 a : 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: as a : wind-driven snow, rain, cloud, dust, or smoke usually at or near the ground surface b (1) : a mass of matter (as sand) deposited together by or as if by wind or water (2) : a helter-skelter accumulation c : drove, flock d : something (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
3 a : 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 (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: 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 foregoing 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
6 a : 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
7 a : an assumed trend toward a general change in the structure of a language over a period of time b : genetic drift
8 : a mass of planted flowers

synonyms see tendency

— drifty \ˈdrif-tē\ adjective