drift

1 verb (I)

1 to move slowly on water or in the air

(+ out/towards etc): The rubber raft drifted out to sea.

2 (always + adv/prep) to move or go somewhere without any plan or purpose

(+ around/along etc): Jenni spent the year drifting around Europe. | drift from sth to sth: The conversation drifted from one topic to another.

3 drift into sth to go from one situation or condition to another without realizing it: She was just drifting into sleep when the alarm went off.

4 if snow, sand etc drifts, the wind blows it into large piles: The snow was drifting in great piles against the house.

5 let sth drift to allow something to continue in the same way: He couldn't let the matter drift for much longer.

drift apart phrasal verb (I) if people drift apart, their relationship gradually ends: Over the years my college friends and I have drifted apart. drift off phrasal verb (I) to gradually fall asleep: I was just drifting off when the phone rang. 2 noun

1 SNOW (C) a large pile of snow, sand etc that has been blown by the wind

(+ of): The road is blocked with massive drifts of snow.

2 SHIP (U) the degree to which a ship or plane changes its direction because of the movement of the wind or water

3 GENERAL MEETING the drift the general meaning of what someone is saying

(+ of): So what's the drift of the argument? | follow/get/catch sb's drift (=understand the general meaning): I didn't hear every word of her speech, but I got the drift.

4 CHANGE (singular) a slow change or development from one situation, opinion etc to another: the drift of public opinion towards the political left | the broad/whole/general drift (=the general change in direction): A general drift towards anarchy must be prevented at all costs.

5 MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE a slow and unplanned movement of large numbers of people

(+ from/to/into): the drift from the countryside to the cities