What is the meaning of drift?

noun

• A force that moves something along.
  • synonyms: impetus, impulsion
• The gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane. )
• A process of linguistic change over a period of time.
• A large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents.
• A general tendency to change (as of opinion. )
  • usage: "not openly liberal but that is the trend of the book"; "a broad movement of the electorate to the right"
  • synonyms: trend, movement
• The pervading meaning or tenor.
  • usage: "caught the general drift of the conversation"
  • synonyms: purport
• A horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine.
  • usage: "they dug a drift parallel with the vein"
  • synonyms: heading, gallery

verb

• Be in motion due to some air or water current.
  • usage: "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"
  • synonyms: float, be adrift, blow
• Wander from a direct course or at random.
  • usage: "The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her"; "don't drift from the set course"
  • synonyms: stray, err
• Move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment.
  • usage: "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"
  • synonyms: roll, wander, swan, stray, tramp, roam, cast, ramble, rove, range, vagabond
• Vary or move from a fixed point or course.
  • usage: "stock prices are drifting higher"
• Live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely.
  • usage: "My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school"
  • synonyms: freewheel
• Move in an unhurried fashion.
  • usage: "The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests"
• Cause to be carried by a current.
  • usage: "drift the boats downstream"
• Drive slowly and far afield for grazing.
  • usage: "drift the cattle herds westwards"
• Be subject to fluctuation.
  • usage: "The stock market drifted upward"
• Be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current.
  • usage: "snow drifting several feet high"; "sand drifting like snow"