HyperDic: drift

English > 17 senses of the word drift:
VERBmotiondrift, float, be adrift, blowbe in motion due to some air or water current
motiondrift, stray, errwander from a direct course or at random
motiondrift, roll, wander, swan, stray, tramp, roam, cast, ramble, rove, range, vagabondmove about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
stativedriftvary or move from a fixed point or course / course
stativedrift, freewheellive unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely
motiondriftmove in an unhurried fashion
motiondriftcause to be carried by a current
contactdriftdrive slowly and far afield for grazing
changedriftbe subject to fluctuation
changedriftbe piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current
NOUNphenomenondrift, impetus, impulsiona force that moves something along
processdriftthe gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)
processdrifta process of linguistic change over a period of time
objectdrifta large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents
cognitiondrift, trend, movementa general tendency to change (as of opinion)
cognitiondrift, purportthe pervading meaning / meaning or tenor
artifactdrift, heading, gallerya horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine
drift > pronunciation
Soundsdrih'ft
Rhymesadrift ... uplift: 18 rhymes with ihft...
English > drift: 17 senses > noun 1, phenomenon
MeaningA force that moves something along.
Synonymsimpetus, impulsion
Broaderforce(physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity
Spanishimpulsión
Catalanimpulsió
Verbsdriftbe in motion due to some air or water current
driftcause to be carried by a current
English > drift: 17 senses > noun 2, process
MeaningThe gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane).
Categoryairplane, aeroplane, planeAn aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
shipA vessel that carries passengers or freight
Narrowerleeway(of a ship or plane) sideways drift
Broadernatural process, natural action, action, activityA process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)
Verbsdriftwander from a direct course or at random
English > drift: 17 senses > noun 3, process
MeaningA process of linguistic change over a period of time.
NarrowermeliorationThe linguistic process in which over a period of time a word grows more positive in connotation or more elevated in meaning / meaning
Broaderlinguistic processA process involved in human language
English > drift: 17 senses > noun 4, object
MeaningA large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents.
NarrowerdrumlinA mound of glacial drift
snowdriftA mass of snow heaped up by the wind
BroadermassA body of matter without definite shape
Spanishvagar
Catalanvagar
Verbsdriftbe piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current
English > drift: 17 senses > noun 5, cognition
MeaningA general tendency to change (as of opinion).
Synonymstrend, movement
Narrowerevolutionary trendA general direction of evolutionary change
gravitationA figurative movement toward some attraction
Broaderinclination, disposition, tendencyAn attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
Spanishcorriente, tendencia
Catalancorrent
Verbsdriftbe subject to fluctuation
drivemove into a desired direction of discourse
English > drift: 17 senses > noun 6, cognition
MeaningThe pervading meaning / meaning or tenor.
Example"caught the general drift of the conversation"
Synonympurport
Broadertenor, strainThe general meaning / meaning or substance of an utterance
Spanishpropósito, sentido, significado
Verbsdrivemove into a desired direction of discourse
English > drift: 17 senses > noun 7, artifact
MeaningA horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine.
Example"they dug a drift parallel with the vein"
Synonymsheading, gallery
Categorymining, excavationThe act of extracting ores or coal etc from the earth
BroaderpassagewayA passage between rooms or between buildings
Spanishgalería
Catalangaleria
Verbsdriveexcavate horizontally
English > drift: 17 senses > verb 1, motion
MeaningBe in motion due to some air or water current.
PatternSomething ----s; Something is ----ing PP
Examples
  • "the boat drifted on the lake"
  • "The sailboat was adrift on the open sea"
  • "the shipwrecked boat drifted away from the shore"
Synonymsfloat, be adrift, blow
Caused byflyCause to fly or float
NarrowerstreamTo extend, wave or float outward, as if in the wind
tideBe carried with the tide
waftBe driven or carried along, as by the air
Broadertravel, go, move, locomotechange location
Similar todriftCause to be carried by a current
floatMove lightly, as if suspended
Spanishflotar
Catalanflotar, nedar, surar
Nounsdrifta force that moves something along
English > drift: 17 senses > verb 2, motion
Meaningwander from a direct course or at random.
PatternSomebody ----s; Somebody ----s PP
Example "don't drift from the set course"
Synonymsstray, err
Broadertravel, go, move, locomotechange location
Similar toroll, wander, swan, stray, tramp, roam, cast, ramble, rove, range, drift, vagabondMove about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
Spanishdescarriarse, desencaminarse, desviarse, errar
Nounsdriftthe gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)
driftagethe deviation (by a vessel or aircraft) from its intended course due to drifting / drifting
driftingaimless wandering from place to place
English > drift: 17 senses > verb 3, motion
MeaningMove about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment.
PatternSomebody ----s; Something is ----ing PP; Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s PP
Example "the laborers drift from one town to the next"
Synonymsroll, wander, swan, stray, tramp, roam, cast, ramble, rove, range, vagabond
Narrowergallivant, gad, jazz aroundwander aimlessly in search of pleasure
maunderwander aimlessly
Broadertravel, go, move, locomotechange location
Similar tostray, err, driftwander from a direct course or at random
wanderGo via an indirect route or at no set pace
Spanishcaminar, deambular, errar, girar, rondar, vagabundear, vagar
Catalancaminar, deambular, girar, rondar, vagabundejar, vagarejar, vagar
Nounsdriftera wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support
driftingaimless wandering from place to place
English > drift: 17 senses > verb 4, stative
MeaningVary or move from a fixed point or course / course.
PatternSomething ----s
Example"stock prices are drifting higher"
BroadervaryBe subject to change in accordance with a variable
Similar todriftBe subject to fluctuation
English > drift: 17 senses > verb 5, stative
MeaningLive unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely.
PatternSomebody ----s
Example"My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school"
Synonymfreewheel
Broaderexist, survive, live, subsistsupport oneself
Similar todriftMove in an unhurried fashion
Spanishir sin rumbo, vivir sin rumbo
English > drift: 17 senses > verb 6, motion
MeaningMove in an unhurried fashion.
PatternSomebody ----s
Example"The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests"
BroadercirculateMove around freely
Similar tofreewheel, driftLive unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely
Spanishpasearse
English > drift: 17 senses > verb 7, motion
MeaningCause to be carried by a current.
PatternSomebody ----s something
Example"drift the boats downstream"
BroaderfloatSet afloat
Similar tofloat, drift, be adrift, blowBe in motion due to some air or water current
Nounsdrifta force that moves something along
English > drift: 17 senses > verb 8, contact
MeaningDrive slowly and far afield for grazing.
PatternSomebody ----s something
Example"drift the cattle herds westwards"
Broadercrop, graze, pastureLet feed in a field or pasture or meadow
English > drift: 17 senses > verb 9, change
MeaningBe subject to fluctuation.
PatternSomething ----s
Example"The stock market drifted upward"
BroaderchangeUndergo a change
Similar todriftVary or move from a fixed point or course / course
Nounsdrifta general tendency to change (as of opinion)
English > drift: 17 senses > verb 10, change
MeaningBe piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current.
PatternSomething ----s
Examples
  • "snow drifting several feet high"
  • "sand drifting like snow"
Broaderaccumulate, cumulate, conglomerate, pile up, gather, amassCollect or gather
Nounsdrifta large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents

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