drift en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English drift, dryft (“act of driving, drove, shower of rain or snow, impulse”), from Old English *drift (“drift”), from Proto-Germanic *driftiz (“drift”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreybʰ- (“to drive, push”). Equivalent to drive + -t; cognate with North Frisian drift (“drift”), Saterland Frisian Drift (“current, flow, stream, drift”), Dutch drift (“drift, passion, urge”), German Drift (“drift”) and Trift (“drove, pasture”), Danish drift (“impulse, instinct”), Swedish drift (“impulse, instinct”), Icelandic drift (“drift, snow-drift”).
Meanings
-
(countable, physical, uncountable) Movement; that which moves or is moved. ▸ Anything driven at random.
Some log perhaps upon the waters swam, a useless drift.
1667, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders, 1666. […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, (please specify the stanza number):
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(countable, physical, uncountable) Movement; that which moves or is moved. ▸ A mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc., especially by wind or water.
"During the winter, we get really bad snow conditions. We can go to eight inches of snow above the railhead, then the trains are stopped. It's usually more like four inches, but you get big drifts up towards Rannoch.
2023 November 29, Paul Clifton, “West is best in the Highlands”, in RAIL, number 997, page 39:Drifts of rising dust involve the sky.
1725, Homer, “Book VIII”, in [William Broome], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume II, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:a drift of snow, of ice, of sand, of plants, etc.
Many of these ground-layer plants were placed in naturalistic drifts to make it appear as if they were sowing themselves.
2012, David L. Culp, The Layered Garden: Design Lessons for Year-Round Beauty from Brandywine Cottage, Timber Press, page 168:We […] got the brig a good bed in the rushing drift [of ice].
1855, Elisha Kent Kane, Arctic explorations: The second Grinnell expedition in search of Sir John Franklin:
- (countable, physical, uncountable) Movement; that which moves or is moved. ▸ The distance through which a current flows in a given time.
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(collective, countable, physical, uncountable) Movement; that which moves or is moved. ▸ The animals being moved in a drive, as of cattle, goats, horses, pigs or sheep.
...traveling slowly, like a drift of horses
2011, Barry Lopez, Light Action in the Caribbean, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group:Mind yourselves below; there's a drift of sheep coming down the road
1912, John M Synge, The Works of John M Synge, At a Wicklow Fair, page 38:cattle coming over the bridge (with their great drifts doing much damage to the high ways)
1655, Thomas Fuller, The History of the University of Cambridge, since the Conquest, [London]: [[…] Iohn Williams […]], →OCLC:
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(collective, countable, physical, uncountable) Movement; that which moves or is moved. ▸ A group of birds moving together.
a drift of birds, wheeling flashing their white underwings
1983, Graham Greene, The Man Within, Penguin Books:A drift of geese rose over the bank.
2023, Sue Hubbard, Flatlands, Steerforth Press, page 213:a drift of ducks waddled in panic from her bare feet
2014, George Mackay Brown, Hawkfall, John Murray Press:
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(countable, physical, uncountable) Movement; that which moves or is moved. ▸ A collection of loose earth and rocks, or boulders, which have been distributed over large portions of the earth's surface, especially in latitudes north of forty degrees, by the retreat of continental glaciers, such as that which buries former river valleys and creates young river valleys.
It is there seen that at a distance from the valleys of streams, the old glacial drift usually comes to the surface, and often rises into considerable eminences.
1867, E. Andrews, "Observations on the Glacial Drift beneath the bed of Lake Michigan," American Journal of Science and Arts, vol. 43, nos. 127-129, page 75
- (countable, physical) Movement; that which moves or is moved. ▸ A collection of logs floating down a river.
- (countable, physical, uncountable) Movement; that which moves or is moved. ▸ Driftwood included in flotsam washed up onto the beach.
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(countable, obsolete, physical, uncountable) Movement; that which moves or is moved. ▸ A driving; a violent movement.
The dragon drew him [self] away with drift of his wings.
1332, author unknown, King Alisaunder:
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(countable, physical, uncountable) Movement; that which moves or is moved. ▸ Course or direction along which anything is driven; setting.
Our drift was south.
1589, Richard Hakluyt, The Principall Navigations, Voiages, and Discoveries of the English Nation, […], London: […] George Bishop and Ralph Newberie, deputies to Christopher Barker, […], →OCLC:
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(countable, physical, uncountable) Movement; that which moves or is moved. ▸ That which is driven, forced, or urged along.
The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom.[…]Drifts of yellow vapour, fiery, parching, stinging, filled the air.
1892, James Yoxall, chapter 5, in The Lonely Pyramid:
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(countable, uncountable) The act or motion of drifting; the force which impels or drives; an overpowering influence or impulse.
A bad man, being under the drift of any passion, will follow the impulse of it till something interpose.
1678, Robert South, Prevention of Sin an unvaluable Mercy, sermon preached at Christ-Church, Oxon on November 10, 1678
- (countable, uncountable) A place (a ford) along a river where the water is shallow enough to permit crossing to the opposite side.
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(countable, uncountable) The tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention; hence, also, import or meaning of a sentence or discourse; aim.
c. early 1700s, Joseph Addison, A Discourse on Ancient and Modern Learning He has made the drift of the whole poem a compliment on his country in general.
Besides, you lack the brains to catch my drift. / If I explained you wouldn't understand.
1951, Geoffrey Chaucer, translated by Nevill Coghill, The Canterbury Tales: Translated into Modern English (Penguin Classics), Penguin Books, published 1977, page 216:The Gods defenders of the innocent, Will neuer proſper your intended driftes, That thus oppreſſe poore friendles paſſengers.
c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:Now thou knowest my drift.
1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC:
- (countable, uncountable) The horizontal thrust or pressure of an arch or vault upon the abutments.
- (countable, qualifier:handiwork, uncountable) A tool. ▸ A slightly tapered tool of steel for enlarging or shaping a hole in metal, by being forced or driven into or through it; a broach.
- (countable, qualifier:handiwork, uncountable) A tool. ▸ A tool used to pack down the composition contained in a rocket, or like firework.
- (countable, qualifier:handiwork, uncountable) A tool. ▸ A tool used to insert or extract a removable pin made of metal or hardwood, for the purpose of aligning and/or securing two pieces of material together.
- (countable, uncountable) A deviation from the line of fire, peculiar to obloid projectiles.
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(uncountable) Minor deviation of audio or video playback from its correct speed.
Reference sync servo system — permits minimal time-base error, assuring minimum jitter and drift.
1975, Broadcast Management/engineering, volume 11:
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(uncountable) The situation where a performer gradually and unintentionally moves from their proper location within the scene.
There is another form of drift when playing in a scene with other actors.
1970, Michael Pate, The Film Actor: Acting for Motion Pictures and Television, page 64:
- (countable, uncountable) A passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway; a small subterranean gallery.
- (countable, uncountable) An adit or tunnel driven forward for purposes of exploration or exploitation; generally eventually to a dead end.
- (countable, uncountable) A sloping winze or road to the surface, for purposes of haulage.
- (countable, uncountable) In a coal mine, a heading driven for exploration or ventilation.
- (countable, uncountable) Of a boring or a driven tunnel: deviation from the intended course.
- (countable, uncountable) A heading driven through a seam of coal.
- (countable, uncountable) Movement. ▸ The angle which the line of a ship's motion makes with the meridian, in drifting.
- (countable, uncountable) Movement. ▸ The distance a vessel is carried off from her desired course by the wind, currents, or other causes.
- (countable, uncountable) Movement. ▸ The place in a deep-waisted vessel where the sheer is raised and the rail is cut off, and usually terminated with a scroll, or driftpiece.
- (countable, uncountable) Movement. ▸ The distance between the two blocks of a tackle.
- (countable, uncountable) Movement. ▸ The difference between the size of a bolt and the hole into which it is driven, or between the circumference of a hoop and that of the mast on which it is to be driven.
- (countable, uncountable) A sideways movement of the ball through the air, when bowled by a spin bowler.
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(countable, uncountable) Slow, cumulative change.
genetic drift
- (countable, uncountable) In the New Forest National Park, UK, the bi-annual round-up of wild ponies in order to sell them.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| drifts | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
AI drift · driftage · underdrift · driftling · driftland · drift space · drift fishing · dedrift · indrift · spoon-drift · exodrift · drift sail · continental drift · drift-anchor · snowdrift · Darwin drift · drift seed · drift mine · driftweed · driftful · driftlet · catch someone's drift · drift-current · get someone's drift · get the drift · downward drift · shift and drift · instinctive drift · drift mining · genetic drift · drifty · stardrift · driftwind · driftway · mid-drift · spindrift · drift excursion · channel drift · foredrift · drift phonk · spoondrift · drift-bolt · drift of the forest · driftwood · driftbolt · driftpin · drift fruit · afterdrift · raindrift · semantic drift · longshore drift · sea-drift · drift-sail · spraydrift · drift-net · driftal · glacial drift · drift net · wage drift · snow drift · drift park · downdrift · updrift · driftless · driftfish · concept drift · drift meter · drift anchor · drift ice
Synonyms
Translations (103)
fi ajopuu (driftwood included in flotsam washed up onto the beach) · ota لغم (passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway; a small subterranean gallery; an adit or tunnel) · et triiv (act or motion of drifting) · bg дрейф (distance to which a vessel is carried off from her desired course by the wind, currents, or other causes) · fi sortuma (distance to which a vessel is carried off from her desired course by the wind, currents, or other causes) · fi vaakavoima (horizontal thrust or pressure of an arch or vault upon the abutments) · fi ajautuva (anything driven at random) · cs závěj (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.) · fi ajautuva (that which is driven, forced, or urged along) · fi perä (passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway; a small subterranean gallery; an adit or tunnel) · fi vaeltelu (slow, cumulative change) · mi paratai (distance to which a vessel is carried off from her desired course by the wind, currents, or other causes) · mba anod (act or motion of drifting) · fi väkipyörien etäisyys (distance between the two blocks of a tackle) · fi sorto (distance to which a vessel is carried off from her desired course by the wind, currents, or other causes) · mi paratai (course or direction along which anything is driven; setting) · fr dérive (act or motion of drifting) · bg дрейф (angle which the line of a ship's motion makes with the meridian, in drifting) · fi ajo- (that which is driven, forced, or urged along) · bg тенденция (the tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention) · fi avennin (slightly tapered tool of steel for enlarging or shaping a hole in metal) · ca vagarejar (anything driven at random) · fi merasin (slightly tapered tool of steel for enlarging or shaping a hole in metal) · cmn 漂流 (act or motion of drifting) · fi kasautuma (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.) · fi tuurna (slightly tapered tool of steel for enlarging or shaping a hole in metal) · fi kasa (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.) · da drive (anything driven at random) · bg навяване (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.) · fi välys (difference between the size of a bolt and the hole into which it is driven) · bg дрейф (act or motion of drifting) · fi pylpyröiden etäisyys (distance between the two blocks of a tackle) · fi tunneli (passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway; a small subterranean gallery; an adit or tunnel) · mi pārāriki (distance to which a vessel is carried off from her desired course by the wind, currents, or other causes) · it punzone (slightly tapered tool of steel for enlarging or shaping a hole in metal) · lv dreifēt (act or motion of drifting) · fi poikkeama (deviation from the line of fire, peculiar to obloid projectiles) · it predisposizione (the tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention) · bg дрейф (distance through which a current flows in a given time) · ru тенде́нция (the tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention) · it tendenza (the tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention) · de Drift (act or motion of drifting) · sv drift (act or motion of drifting) · eo drivo (act or motion of drifting) · ru тече́ние (act or motion of drifting) · fi lauma (drove or flock) · fi etenemä (distance through which a current flows in a given time) · fi tamppi (slightly tapered tool of steel for enlarging or shaping a hole in metal) · it verso (course or direction along which anything is driven; setting) · sv drift (course or direction along which anything is driven; setting) · ota نفق (passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway; a small subterranean gallery; an adit or tunnel) · ca vagar (anything driven at random) · ca deriva (act or motion of drifting) · sv drift (tool used in driving down compactly the composition contained in a rocket, or like firework) · bg насока (course or direction along which anything is driven; setting) · sv drift (passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway; a small subterranean gallery; an adit or tunnel) · it deriva (course or direction along which anything is driven; setting) · sv drift (angle which the line of a ship's motion makes with the meridian, in drifting) · pt deriva (act or motion of drifting) · it detrito (that which is driven, forced, or urged along) · it orientamento (the tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention) · fi ryömintä (slow, cumulative change) · mi pārāriki (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.) · it ammasso (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.) · fi vaakapaine (horizontal thrust or pressure of an arch or vault upon the abutments) · ga síobán (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.) · it torsello (slightly tapered tool of steel for enlarging or shaping a hole in metal) · fi ajelehtiva (anything driven at random) · fi suunta (course or direction along which anything is driven; setting) · fi survin (tool used in driving down compactly the composition contained in a rocket, or like firework) · fi ulospakotin (slightly tapered tool of steel for enlarging or shaping a hole in metal) · it deriva (act or motion of drifting) · it materiale alluvionale (that which is driven, forced, or urged along) · ru дрейф (act or motion of drifting) · fi moreeni (collection of loose earth and rocks, or boulders, which have been distributed over large portions of the earth's surface) · sv driva (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.) · sv driva (anything driven at random) · es deriva (act or motion of drifting) · fi ajelehtiminen (act or motion of drifting) · ga síobadh (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.) · pl zaspa (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.) · it direzione (course or direction along which anything is driven; setting) · fi ajelehtiva (that which is driven, forced, or urged along) · es derrape (act or motion of drifting) · fi kasaantuma (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.) · fi sortokulma (angle which the line of a ship's motion makes with the meridian, in drifting) · ceb anod (act or motion of drifting) · mi hū (the tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention) · it morena (that which is driven, forced, or urged along) · pt derrapagem (act or motion of drifting) · pl dryft (act or motion of drifting) · ja 漂流 (act or motion of drifting) · fi taipumus (the tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention) · it cumolo (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.) · fi kupu (place in a deep-waisted vessel where the sheer is raised and the rail is cut off) · fi ajautuma (sideways movement of the ball through the air, when bowled by a spin bowler) · fi ajautuminen (act or motion of drifting) · fi plokien etäisyys (distance between the two blocks of a tackle) · eo drivaĵo (driftwood included in flotsam washed up onto the beach) · fi ajautuminen (slow, cumulative change) · it indirizzo (the tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention) · bg течение (act or motion of drifting) · mi paratai (mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc.)