drift

nouns

a force that moves something along

drift, impetus, impulsion

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

drift

domain category

an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets

"the flight was delayed due to trouble with the airplane"

aeroplane, airplane, plane

domain category

a vessel that carries passengers or freight

ship

is a type of (narrower)

a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)

"the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity"

action, activity, natural action, natural process

a process of linguistic change over a period of time

drift

is a type of (narrower)

a process involved in human language

linguistic process

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

drift

is a type of (narrower)

a body of matter without definite shape

"a huge ice mass"

mass

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"

drift, movement, trend

is derived from

drive

the pervading meaning or tenor

"caught the general drift of the conversation"

drift, purport

is derived from

drive

a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine

"they dug a drift parallel with the vein"

drift, gallery, heading

is derived from

drive

verbs

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"

be adrift, blow, drift, float

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"

drift, err, stray

is derived from

driftage

is derived from

drifting

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"

cast, drift, ramble, range, roam, roll, rove, stray, swan, tramp, vagabond, wander

is derived from

drifter

is derived from

drifting

vary or move from a fixed point or course

"stock prices are drifting higher"

drift

verb group

be subject to fluctuation

"The stock market drifted upward"

drift

is a type of (narrower)

be subject to change in accordance with a variable

"Prices vary"; "His moods vary depending on the weather"

vary

live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely

"My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school"

drift, freewheel

move in an unhurried fashion

"The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests"

drift

verb group

live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely

"My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school"

drift, freewheel

is a type of (narrower)

move around freely

"She circulates among royalty"

circulate

cause to be carried by a current

"drift the boats downstream"

drift

verb group

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"

be adrift, blow, drift, float

is a type of (narrower)

set afloat

"He floated the logs down the river"; "The boy floated his toy boat on the pond"

float

drive slowly and far afield for grazing

"drift the cattle herds westwards"

drift

is a type of (narrower)

let feed in a field or pasture or meadow

crop, graze, pasture

be subject to fluctuation