drift

  • (noun): (physical) Movement; that which moves or is moved.
  • (noun): The act or motion of drifting; the force which impels or drives; an overpowering influence or impulse.
  • (noun): A place (a ford) along a river where the water is shallow enough to permit crossing to the opposite side.
  • (noun): The tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention; hence, also, import or meaning of a sentence or discourse; aim.
  • (noun): The horizontal thrust or pressure of an arch or vault upon the abutments.
  • (noun): (handiwork) A tool.
  • (noun): A deviation from the line of fire, peculiar to oblong projectiles.
  • (noun): Minor deviation of audio or video playback from its correct speed.
  • (noun): The situation where a performer gradually and unintentionally moves from their proper location within the scene.
  • (noun): A passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway; a small subterranean gallery; an adit or tunnel.
  • (noun): Movement.
  • (noun): A sideways movement of the ball through the air, when bowled by a spin bowler.
  • (noun): Slow, cumulative change.
  • (verb): To move slowly, especially pushed by currents of water, air, etc.
  • (verb): To move haphazardly without any destination.
  • (verb): To deviate gently from the intended direction of travel.
  • (verb): To drive or carry, as currents do a floating body.
  • (verb): To drive into heaps.
  • (verb): To accumulate in heaps by the force of wind; to be driven into heaps.
  • (verb): To make a drift; to examine a vein or ledge for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of metals or ores; to follow a vein; to prospect.
  • (verb): To enlarge or shape, as a hole, with a drift.
  • (verb): To oversteer a vehicle, causing loss of traction, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner. See Drifting (motorsport).
  • genetic drift
  • The balloon was drifting in the breeze.
  • He drifted from town to town, never settling down.
  • This car tends to drift left at high speeds.
  • A current of wind drifts snow or sand