drift

verb

• 1be carried slowly by a current of air or water:the cabin cruiser started to drift downstream figurativeexcited voices drifted down the hall
• [with adverbial of direction] walk slowly, aimlessly, or casually:people began to drift away
• [with adverbial] move passively, aimlessly, or involuntarily into a certain situation or condition:I was drifting off to sleep
• (of a person or their attention) digress or stray to another subject:I noticed my audience’s attention drifting

• 2(especially of snow or leaves) be blown into heaps by the wind:fallen leaves start to drift in the gutters (as adjective drifting)long stretches of drifting snow

noun

• 1 [in singular] a continuous slow movement from one place to another:there was a drift to the towns
• [mass noun] 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 towards another that is perceived as unwelcome:the drift towards a more repressive style of policing
• [mass noun] a state of inaction or indecision: after so much drift, any expression of enthusiasm is welcome
• Motor Racing a controlled skid, used in taking bends at high speeds.

• 2 [in singular] the general intention or meaning of an argument or someone’s remarks:maybe I’m too close to the forest to see the trees, if you catch my drift he didn’t understand much Greek, but he got her drift

• 3a large mass of snow, leaves, or other material piled up or carried along by the wind: four sheep were dug out of the drift
• [mass noun] Geology glacial and fluvioglacial deposits left by retreating ice sheets.
• a large spread of flowering plants growing together:a drift of daffodils

• 4 Mining a horizontal or inclined passage following a mineral vein or coal seam: the drift led to another smaller ore chamber

• 5British historical an act of driving cattle or sheep.
• an act of herding cattle within a forest to a particular place on an appointed day in order to determine ownership or to levy fines.

• 6South African a ford.