Meaning

• (physical) Movement; that which moves or is moved.

• The act or motion of drifting; the force which impels or drives; an overpowering influence or impulse.

• A place (a ford) along a river where the water is shallow enough to permit crossing to the opposite side.

• 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.

• The horizontal thrust or pressure of an arch or vault upon the abutments.

• (handiwork) A tool.

• A deviation from the line of fire, peculiar to oblong projectiles.

• Minor deviation of audio or video playback from its correct speed.

• The situation where a performer gradually and unintentionally moves from their proper location within the scene.

• A passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway; a small subterranean gallery; an adit or tunnel.

• Movement.

• A sideways movement of the ball through the air, when bowled by a spin bowler.

• Slow, cumulative change.

  "genetic drift"

Meaning

• To move slowly, especially pushed by currents of water, air, etc.

  "The balloon was drifting in the breeze."

• To move haphazardly without any destination.

  "He drifted from town to town, never settling down."

• To deviate gently from the intended direction of travel.

  "This car tends to drift left at high speeds."

• To drive or carry, as currents do a floating body.

• To drive into heaps.

  "A current of wind drifts snow or sand"

• To accumulate in heaps by the force of wind; to be driven into heaps.

  "Snow or sand drifts."

• To make a drift; to examine a vein or ledge for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of metals or ores; to follow a vein; to prospect.

• To enlarge or shape, as a hole, with a drift.

• To oversteer a vehicle, causing loss of traction, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner. See Drifting (motorsport).