Main entry: drift, gallery, heading
Definition: a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine
Usage: they dug a drift parallel with the vein
Definition: the pervading meaning or tenor
Usage: caught the general drift of the conversation
Main entry: trend, movement, drift
Definition: a general tendency to change (as of opinion)
Usage: not openly liberal but that is the trend of the book; a broad movement of the electorate to the right
Main entry: drift
Definition: a large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents
Main entry: drift, impetus, impulsion
Definition: a force that moves something along
Main entry: drift
Definition: the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)
Main entry: drift
Definition: a process of linguistic change over a period of time
Main entry: drift
Definition: be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current
Usage: snow drifting several feet high; sand drifting like snow
Main entry: drift
Definition: be subject to fluctuation
Usage: The stock market drifted upward
Main entry: drift
Definition: drive slowly and far afield for grazing
Usage: drift the cattle herds westwards
Main entry: drift
Definition: cause to be carried by a current
Usage: drift the boats downstream
Main entry: tramp, swan, stray, drift, cast, roam, ramble, range, vagabond, wander, roll, rove
Definition: move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
Usage: 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
Main entry: drift, float, blow, be adrift
Definition: be in motion due to some air or water current
Usage: 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
Main entry: drift
Definition: move in an unhurried fashion
Usage: The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests
Definition: wander from a direct course or at random
Usage: The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her; don't drift from the set course
Definition: live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely
Usage: My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school
Main entry: drift
Definition: vary or move from a fixed point or course
Usage: stock prices are drifting higher