drift

¹drift

noun \ˈdrift\

Definition of DRIFT

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

— drifty \ˈdrif-tē\ adjective

Examples of DRIFT

1. the slow drift of the clouds
2. As she got older, you could observe a drift in her writing towards more serious subjects.
3. the government's drift towards a centralization of power

Origin of DRIFT

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DRIFT

Synonyms: bar, ²bank, mound

Related Words: snowbank, snowdrift; embankment, sandbar; heap, hill, mass, mountain, stack, tuft

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at tendency

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

Rhymes with DRIFT

gift, grift, lift, rift, shift, shrift, sift, squiffed, swift, thrift