drift
♦ drift /dr'ɪft/ (drifts drifting drifted)
1 [VERB] V adv/prep, V
When something drifts somewhere, it is carried there by the movement of wind or water.
We proceeded to drift on up the river...
The waves became rougher as they drifted.
2 [VERB] V prep/adv, V
If someone or something drifts into a situation, they get into that situation in a way that is not planned or controlled.
We need to offer young people drifting into crime an alternative set of values...
There is a general sense that the country and economy alike are drifting.
3 [VERB] V prep/adv
If you say that someone drifts around, you mean that they travel from place to place without a plan or settled way of life.
You've been drifting from job to job without any real commitment.
4 [N-COUNT] usu N prep
A drift is a movement away from somewhere or something, or a movement towards somewhere or something different.
...the drift towards the cities.
5 [VERB] V prep
To drift somewhere means to move there slowly or gradually.
As rural factories shed labour, people drift towards the cities.
6 [VERB] V prep/adv
If sounds drift somewhere, they can be heard but they are not very loud.
Cool summer dance sounds are drifting from the stereo indoors.
7 [VERB] V
If snow drifts, it builds up into piles as a result of the movement of the wind.
The snow, except where it drifted, was only calf-deep...
8 [N-COUNT]
A drift is a mass of snow that has built up into a pile as a result of the movement of wind.
...a nine-foot snow drift.
9 [N-SING] poss N, N of n
The drift of an argument or speech is the general point that is being made in it.
Grace was beginning to get his drift...
= gistcon|ti|nen|tal drift
[N-UNCOUNT]
Continental drift is the slow movement of the Earth's continents towards and away from each other.drift off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, also V P
If you drift off to sleep, you gradually fall asleep.
It was only when he finally drifted off to sleep that the headaches eased.
1 [VERB] V adv/prep, V
When something drifts somewhere, it is carried there by the movement of wind or water.
We proceeded to drift on up the river...
The waves became rougher as they drifted.
2 [VERB] V prep/adv, V
If someone or something drifts into a situation, they get into that situation in a way that is not planned or controlled.
We need to offer young people drifting into crime an alternative set of values...
There is a general sense that the country and economy alike are drifting.
3 [VERB] V prep/adv
If you say that someone drifts around, you mean that they travel from place to place without a plan or settled way of life.
You've been drifting from job to job without any real commitment.
4 [N-COUNT] usu N prep
A drift is a movement away from somewhere or something, or a movement towards somewhere or something different.
...the drift towards the cities.
5 [VERB] V prep
To drift somewhere means to move there slowly or gradually.
As rural factories shed labour, people drift towards the cities.
6 [VERB] V prep/adv
If sounds drift somewhere, they can be heard but they are not very loud.
Cool summer dance sounds are drifting from the stereo indoors.
7 [VERB] V
If snow drifts, it builds up into piles as a result of the movement of the wind.
The snow, except where it drifted, was only calf-deep...
8 [N-COUNT]
A drift is a mass of snow that has built up into a pile as a result of the movement of wind.
...a nine-foot snow drift.
9 [N-SING] poss N, N of n
The drift of an argument or speech is the general point that is being made in it.
Grace was beginning to get his drift...
= gistcon|ti|nen|tal drift
[N-UNCOUNT]
Continental drift is the slow movement of the Earth's continents towards and away from each other.drift off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, also V P
If you drift off to sleep, you gradually fall asleep.
It was only when he finally drifted off to sleep that the headaches eased.