drift

Noun

• a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine
  • they dug a drift parallel with the vein
    

• the pervading meaning or tenor
  • caught the general drift of the conversation
    

• 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
    

• a large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents

• a process of linguistic change over a period of time

• the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)

• a force that moves something along

Verb

• be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current
  • snow drifting several feet high
    
  • sand drifting like snow
    

• be subject to fluctuation
  • The stock market drifted upward
    

• drive slowly and far afield for grazing
  • drift the cattle herds westwards
    

• cause to be carried by a current
  • drift the boats downstream
    

• move in an unhurried fashion
  • The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests
    

• live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely
  • My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school
    

• vary or move from a fixed point or course
  • stock prices are drifting higher
    

• 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
    

• 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
    

• 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
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  heading , gallery , purport , trend , movement , impetus , impulsion , freewheel , stray , err , float , be adrift , blow