drift
     n 1: a force that moves something along [syn: {impetus}, {impulsion}]
     2: the gradual departure from an intended course due to
        external influences (as a ship or plane)
     3: a process of linguistic change over a period of time
     4: something that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents
     5: a general tendency to change (as of opinion); "not openly
        liberal but that is the trend of the book"; "a broad
        movement of the electorate to the right" [syn: {trend}, {movement}]
     6: general meaning or tenor; "caught the drift of the
        conversation" [syn: {purport}]
     7: a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine;
        "they dug a drift parallel with the vein" [syn: {heading},
         {gallery}]
     v 1: be in motion due to some air or water current; "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" [syn: {float},
           {be adrift}, {blow}]
     2: wander from a direct course or at random; "The child strayed
        from the path and her parents lost sight of her"; "don't
        drift from the set course" [syn: {stray}, {err}]
     3: move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in
        search of food or employment; "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"
        [syn: {roll}, {wander}, {swan}, {stray}, {tramp}, {roam},
        {cast}, {ramble}, {rove}, {range}, {vagabond}]
     4: vary or move from a fixed point or course; "stock prices are
        drifting higher"
     5: live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely; "My son drifted
        around for years in California before going to law school"
        [syn: {freewheel}]
     6: move in an unhurried fashion; "The unknown young man drifted
        among the invited guests"
     7: cause to be carried by a current; "drift the boats
        downstream"
     8: drive slowly and far afield for grazing; "drift the cattle
        herds westwards"
     9: be subject to fluctuation; "The stock market drifted upward"
     10: be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a
         current; "snow drifting several feet high"; "sand
         drifting like snow"
Source: WordNet® 2.0