drift

drift / drift/ • v. [intr.] 1. be carried slowly by a current of air or water: the cabin cruiser started to drift downstream | fig. excited voices drifted down the hall. ∎  (of a person) walk slowly, aimlessly, or casually: people began to drift away. ∎  move passively, aimlessly, or involuntarily into a certain situation or condition: I was drifting off to sleep | Lewis and his father drifted apart. ∎  (of a person or their attention) digress or stray to another subject: I noticed my audience's attention drifting. 2. (esp. of snow or leaves) be blown into heaps by the wind: fallen leaves start to drift in the gutters | [as adj.] (drifting) drifting snow. • n. 1. [in sing.] a continuous slow movement from one place to another: there was a drift to the towns. ∎  the deviation of a vessel, aircraft, or projectile from its intended or expected course as the result of currents or winds: the pilot had not noticed any appreciable drift. ∎  a steady movement or development from one thing toward another, esp. one that is perceived as unwelcome: the drift toward a more repressive style of policing. ∎  a state of inaction or indecision: after so much drift, any expression of enthusiasm is welcome. 2. [in sing.] the general intention or meaning of an argument or someone's remarks: he didn't understand much Greek, but he got her drift. 3. a large mass of snow, leaves, or other material piled up or carried along by the wind. ∎  Geol. glacial and fluvioglacial deposits left by retreating ice sheets. ∎  a large mass of flowering plants growing together: a drift of daffodils. 4. Mining a horizontal or inclined passage following a mineral vein or coal seam. DERIVATIVES: drift·y adj.