slow movement
1 [sing.,U] a slow steady movement from one place to another; a gradual change or development from one situation to another, especially to sth bad:
a population drift away from rural areas * attempts to halt the drift towards war
of ship
2 [U] the movement of a ship or plane away from its direction because of currents or wind:
Remember to allow for drift.
of sea / air
3 [U,C] the movement of the sea or air
SYNCURRENT:
the general direction of drift on the east coast * He knew the hidden drifts in that part of the river.
of snow
4 [C] a large pile of sth, especially snow, made by the wind:
The road was blocked by deep drifts of snow.
seealsoSNOWDRIFT
of flowers
5 [C] a large mass of sth, especially flowers:
Plant daffodils in informal drifts.
meaning
6 [sing.] the general meaning of what sb says or writes:
Do you catch my drift? * My German isn't very good, but I got the drift of what she said.
seealsoCONTINENTALDRIFT
سۆز تۈركۈمى: verb
move slowly
1 [V] [usually +adv./prep.] to move along smoothly and slowly in water or air:
Clouds drifted across the sky. * The empty boat drifted out to sea. * A cool breeze drifted through the open window. * Smoke drifted across the room.
2 [V+adv./prep.] to move or go somewhere slowly:
The crowd drifted away from the scene of the accident. * Her gaze drifted around the room. * People began to drift back to their houses.
without purpose
3 [V] [usually +adv./prep.] to happen or change or to do sth without a particular plan or purpose:
I didn't intend to be a teacher-I just drifted into it. * He hasn't decided what to do yet-he's just drifting. * The conversation drifted onto politics.
into state / situation
4 [V] ~ in / into sth to go from one situation or state to another without realizing it:
Finally she drifted into sleep. * The injured man tried to speak but soon drifted into unconsciousness.
of snow / sand
5 [V] to be blown into large piles by the wind:
drifting sand * Some roads are closed because of drifting.
float
6 [VN] to make sth float somewhere:
The logs are drifted downstream to the mill.
PHRASALVERBS
drift apart to become less friendly or close to sb:
As children we were very close, but as we grew up we just drifted apart.
drift off (to sleep) to fall asleep:
I didn't hear the storm, I must have drifted off by then.
