DRIFTED - Definition & Meaning for Kids

Meaning 1

Part of speech: Noun

a force that moves something along

Meaning 2

Part of speech: Noun

the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)

Meaning 3

Part of speech: Noun

a process of linguistic change over a period of time

Meaning 4

Part of speech: Noun

a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine

Example: they dug a drift parallel with the vein

Meaning 5

Part of speech: Noun

the pervading meaning or tenor

Example: caught the general drift of the conversation

Meaning 6

Part of speech: Noun

a general tendency to change (as of opinion)

Example: not openly liberal but that is the trend of the book; a broad movement of the electorate to the right

Meaning 7

Part of speech: Noun

a large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents

Meaning 8

Part of speech: Verb

drive slowly and far afield for grazing

Example: drift the cattle herds westwards

Meaning 9

Part of speech: Verb

cause to be carried by a current

Example: drift the boats downstream

Meaning 10

Part of speech: Verb

move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

Example: 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

Meaning 11

Part of speech: Verb

be in motion due to some air or water current

Example: 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

Meaning 12

Part of speech: Verb

move in an unhurried fashion

Example: The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests

Meaning 13

Part of speech: Verb

wander from a direct course or at random

Example: The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her; don't drift from the set course

Meaning 14

Part of speech: Verb

live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely

Example: My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school

Meaning 15

Part of speech: Verb

vary or move from a fixed point or course

Example: stock prices are drifting higher

Meaning 16

Part of speech: Verb

be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current

Example: snow drifting several feet high; sand drifting like snow

Meaning 17

Part of speech: Verb

be subject to fluctuation

Example: The stock market drifted upward