drift

[ drift ]

noun

1. a driving movement or force; impulse; impetus; pressure.
2. Navigation. (of a ship) the component of the movement that is due to the force of wind and currents.
3. Oceanography. a broad, shallow ocean current that advances at the rate of 10 to 15 miles (16 to 24 km) a day.
4. Nautical.
   1. the flow or the speed in knots of an ocean current.
   2. the distance between the end of a rope and the part in use.
   3. the distance between two blocks in a tackle.
   4. the difference in diameter between two parts, one of which fits within the other, as a mast and its mast hoops, or a treenail and its hole.
5. Aeronautics. the deviation of an aircraft from a set course due to cross winds.
6. the course along which something moves; tendency; aim:

   The drift of political events after the war was toward chaos.

7. meaning; intent; purport:

   the drift of a statement.

   Synonyms: tenor

8. something driven, as animals, rain, etc.
9. a heap of any matter driven together.
10. a snowdrift.
11. Geology. glacial drift.
12. the state or process of being driven.
13. overbearing power or influence.
14. Military. a tool used in charging an ordnance piece.
15. Electronics.
    1. a gradual change in some operating characteristic of a circuit, tube, or other electronic device, either during a brief period as an effect of warming up or during a long period as an effect of continued use.
    2. the movement of charge carriers in a semiconductor due to the influence of an applied voltage.
16. Linguistics. gradual change in the structure of a language.
17. Machinery.
    1. Also called driftpin. a round, tapering piece of steel for enlarging holes in metal, or for bringing holes in line to receive rivets or bolts.
    2. a flat, tapered piece of steel used to drive tools with tapered shanks, as drill bits, from their holders.
18. Civil Engineering. a secondary tunnel between two main tunnels or shafts.
19. Mining. an approximately horizontal passageway in underground mining.
20. Physics. the movement of charged particles under the influence of an electric field.
21. Aerospace. the gradual deviation of a rocket or guided missile from its intended trajectory.
22. Mechanics. displacement of the gimbals of a gyroscope due to friction on bearings, unbalance of the gyroscope's mass or other imperfections.
23. the thrust of an arched structure.
24. Dentistry. a shift of the teeth from their normal position in the dental arch.
25. Western U.S. a flock of animals or birds.

verb (used without object)

1. to be carried along by currents of water or air, or by the force of circumstances.
2. to wander aimlessly:

   He drifts from town to town.

3. to be driven into heaps, as by the wind:

   drifting sand.

4. to deviate or vary from a set course or adjustment.

verb (used with object)

1. to carry along:

   The current drifted the boat to sea.

2. to drive into heaps:

   The wind drifted the snow.

3. Machinery.
   1. to enlarge (a punched or drilled hole) with a drift.
   2. to align or straighten (holes, especially rivet holes) with a drift.

verb phrase

1. to fall asleep gradually.

drift

/ drɪft /

verb

1. also tr to be carried along by or as if by currents of air or water or (of a current) to carry (a vessel, etc) along
2. to move aimlessly from place to place or from one activity to another
3. to wander or move gradually away from a fixed course or point; stray
4. also tr (of snow, sand, etc) to accumulate in heaps or banks or to drive (snow, sand, etc) into heaps or banks

noun

1. something piled up by the wind or current, such as a snowdrift
2. tendency, trend, meaning, or purport

   the drift of the argument

3. a state of indecision or inaction
4. the extent to which a vessel, aircraft, projectile, etc is driven off its course by adverse winds, tide, or current
5. a general tendency of surface ocean water to flow in the direction of the prevailing winds

   North Atlantic Drift

6. a driving movement, force, or influence; impulse
7. a controlled four-wheel skid, used by racing drivers to take bends at high speed
8. a loose unstratified deposit of sand, gravel, etc, esp one transported and deposited by a glacier or ice sheet
9. a horizontal passage in a mine that follows the mineral vein
10. something, esp a group of animals, driven along by human or natural agencies

    a drift of cattle

11. Also calleddriftpin a tapering steel tool driven into holes to enlarge or align them before bolting or riveting
12. an uncontrolled slow change in some operating characteristic of a piece of equipment, esp an electronic circuit or component
13. linguistics gradual change in a language, esp in so far as this is influenced by the internal structure of the language rather than by contact with other languages
14. a ford
15. engineering a copper or brass bar used as a punch

Derived Forms

• ˈdrifty, adjective

Other Words From

• drifting·ly adverb
• driftless adjective
• driftless·ness noun
• un·drifting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of drift¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English drift, noun derivative of the Old English verb drīfan drive; cognate with Dutch drift “herd, flock,” German Trift “herd, pasturage, road to pasture”

Word History and Origins

Origin of drift¹

C13: from Old Norse: snowdrift; related to Old High German trift pasturage

Idioms and Phrases

see get the drift .

Synonym Study

See tendency.

Example Sentences

If and when the layoffs are deemed illegal, those workers might have long drifted away, to other employers or other states.

From New York Times

If England's individuals play it a quarter-of-a-second safer or drift a degree more, suddenly the collective coordination is lost.

From BBC

Although much of Yoakam’s most celebrated work has centered on classic country themes such as hardship, heartache, loneliness and drifting, “Brighter Days” demonstrates considerable joy.

From Los Angeles Times

The mood around England seems increasingly gripped by a sense of drift, a holding operation with Carsley as the front man while Tuchel strangely waits in the wings before taking charge.

From BBC

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology has also warned that the volcanic ash might drift to parts of the country's north on Wednesday.

From BBC

Related Words

• progression
• tendency

More About Drift

What does drift mean?

To drift is to be carried along by water or air currents, the way a rubber duck might drift around in a tub.

To drift is also to carry something along, as an air current drifts dead leaves through the air.

This force of motion is also called a drift, as in The ocean drift carried my boogie board out to sea!

Related to this, drift can also mean to wander aimlessly. This sense can be used literally, as when you walk around a theme park with no specific destination in mind. It can also be used figuratively, as when you’re telling a friend a story about your cat and you drift into an unrelated story about your favorite video game. When we’re falling asleep slowly, we sometimes say we’re drifting off to sleep.

Drift can also refer to a purpose or meaning. As your science teacher explains a new concept, you might understand a little of it, getting the drift of it, but not yet understand all of what they’re talking about.

Example: We saw an empty raft drifting down the river.

Where does drift come from?

The first records of the term drift come from the late 1200s. It ultimately comes from the Old English drīfan meaning “to drive.” Drift might be called “a driving force” because it moves things forward.

Drift is closely related to nautical travel and the waters. In boat travel, for example, drift refers to the movement of a ship, its speed, the distance of a rope, the distance of cargo, and measurements of the ship itself. This is because the currents of the water and the wind cause things to float and drift along the water.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to drift?

• drifter (noun)
• driftingly (adverb)
• driftless (adjective)
• undrifting (adjective)

What are some synonyms for drift?

• flit
• meander
• wander
• progression
• tendency

What are some words that share a root or word element with drift? 

• driftage
• drifter
• drive

What are some words that often get used in discussing drift?

• current
• air
• car
• apart

How is drift used in real life?

Drift is a common word with many senses, all of which relate to something moving slowly or gently.

How'd we drift so far away

— michael clifford on tour (@Michael5SOS) April 5, 2015

Sea otters hold hands while sleeping so they don't drift away from each other.

— UberFacts (@UberFacts) May 1, 2012

when people get shaky during their speeches i just want to drift up to them like a ghost and gently hug them so they know it's okay

— Daniel Howell (@danielhowell) March 3, 2014

Try using drift!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for drift?

A. float
B. halt
C. wander
D. flit