drift

drift1 [ drıft ] verb intransitive **

1. ) to be pushed along very slowly by the movement of air or water:

The boat started to drift out to sea.

Thick smoke from a forest fire drifted across the town.

a ) if snow or sand drifts, the wind blows it into a large pile

2. ) to move somewhere slowly as though you do not know where you are going:

People were drifting around the conference center.

a ) to go from one state to another without realizing it:

He was drifting in and out of consciousness.

3. ) to do something or happen in a way that is not planned:

The conversation drifted toward the subject of money.

I just drifted into nursing really.

,drift a`part phrasal verb intransitive

if two or more people drift apart, their relationship gradually ends

,drift `off phrasal verb intransitive

to start to sleep:

I was just drifting off when the door slammed.

drift

drift 2 [ drıft ] noun *

1. ) count a large pile of snow or sand formed by the wind:

The car was stuck in a deep snow drift.

2. ) singular INFORMAL the meaning that someone is trying to express:

the general drift: Well, anyway, I'm sure you get the general drift.

get/catch someone's drift (=understand the basic meaning): Do you get my drift?

3. ) singular a slow and gradual change from one situation or opinion to another:

the drift away from socialism

4. ) singular a gradual movement of people from one place to another:

the population drift to the cities