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 heaped up by the wind or current

5: a general tendency as of opinion: "not openly liberal but

that is the tendency of the book" [syn: {trend}]

6: general meaning or tenor: "caught the drift of the

conversation" [syn: {purport}]

7: (mining) 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 current; "The leaves were

blowing in the wind"; "the boat drifted on the lake"

[syn: {float}, {be adrift}, {blow}]

2: wander from a direct course or at random [syn: {stray}, {err}]

3: wander about aimlessly; "The gypsies roamed the woods" [syn:

{wander}, {swan}, {stray}, {roam}, {cast}, {ramble}, {rove},

{range}, {vagabond}]

4: be driven or carried along [syn: {waft}]

5: live irresponsibly or freely [syn: {freewheel}]