drift, float

名詞 drift:

1. a force that moves something along
   同義詞：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 that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents
5. a general tendency to change (as of opinion)
   同義詞：trend, movement
6. the pervading meaning or tenor
   同義詞：purport
7. a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine
   同義詞：heading, gallery

動詞 drift:

1. be in motion due to some air or water current
   同義詞：float, be adrift, blow
2. wander from a direct course or at random
   同義詞：stray, err
3. move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
   同義詞：roll, wander, swan, stray, tramp, roam, cast, ramble, rove, range, vagabond
4. vary or move from a fixed point or course
5. live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely
   同義詞：freewheel
6. move in an unhurried fashion
7. cause to be carried by a current
8. drive slowly and far afield for grazing
9. be subject to fluctuation
10. be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current

1. She finally drifted in two hours after everyone else.
   在大家到齊之後兩小時，她終於姍姍來到。
2. A tiny fishing boat was drifting slowly along.
   一只小小的漁船在緩緩地漂去。
3. The road was edged with snow drifts.
   路邊上有一個個雪堆。

drift

v.（動詞）
drift.ed,drift.ing,drifts
v.intr.（不及物動詞）
To be carried along by currents of air or water:
流動：被氣流或水流攜帶：
例句：
a balloon drifting eastward; as the wreckage drifted toward shore.
向東飄的汽球；船骸漂向海岸

To proceed or move unhurriedly and smoothly:
隨意移動：從容平穩(wěn)地前進或移動：
例句：
drifting among the party guests.
在晚會客人中隨意走動

To move leisurely or sporadically from place to place, especially without purpose or regular employment:
漂泊：閑適地或不定期地從一個地方到另一個地方，尤指無目的或無固定職業(yè)地：
例句：
a day laborer, drifting from town to town.
臨時工從一個城鎮(zhèn)漂泊到另一個城鎮(zhèn)

To wander from a set course or point of attention; stray.
偏離：離開一定的路線或注意點；游離
To vary from or oscillate randomly about a fixed setting, position, or mode of operation.
任意改變：改變固定的環(huán)境、位置或工作模式或在其附近隨意搖擺
To be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of a current:
堆積：由于氣流等的力量而被堆積：
例句：
snow drifting to five feet.
吹積成五英尺厚的雪堆

v.tr.（及物動詞）
To cause to be carried in a current:
漂流：被氣流或水流攜帶：
例句：
drifting the logs downstream.
讓木頭向下漂游

To pile up in banks or heaps:
堆積成堆：
例句：
Wind drifted the loose straw against the barn.
風把散落的稻草吹得靠谷倉堆積起來

Western U.S. To drive (livestock) slowly or far afield, especially for grazing.
【美國西部】 驅趕：慢慢地或在野地里趕（牲口），尤指為了放牧
n.（名詞）
The act or condition of drifting.
漂：漂的動作或狀態(tài)
Something moving along in a current of air or water.
漂流物：隨氣流或水流移動的東西
A bank or pile, as of sand or snow, heaped up by currents of air or water.
吹積物：被氣流或水流聚成的堆，如沙或雪
Geology Rock debris transported and deposited by or from ice, especially by or from a glacier.
【地質學】 冰磧：由或從冰，尤其是冰山，移動和沉積的碎屑

A general trend or tendency, as of opinion.See Synonyms at tendency
潮流：總的傾向，如指觀點參見 tendency
General meaning or purport; tenor:
大意：大致的意思或要旨；目的：
例句：
caught the drift of the conversation.
把握對話的要旨

A gradual change in position.
位置的逐漸變化
A gradual deviation from an original course, model, method, or intention.
逐漸越軌：從初始的路線、模式、方式或目的的逐漸偏離
Variation or random oscillation about a fixed setting, position, or mode of behavior.
隨意搖動：對固定環(huán)境、位置或行為模式的改變或任意搖擺
A gradual change in the output of a circuit or amplifier.
逐漸改變：電路或放大器輸出功率的逐漸改變
The rate of flow of a water current.
水流的速度

A tool for ramming or driving something down.
用來撞擊的工具：將某物沖下或趕下去的工具
A tapered steel pin for enlarging and aligning holes.
打孔器：用來擴大或調整孔洞的尖鋼針

A horizontal or nearly horizontal passageway in a mine running through or parallel to a vein.
水平巷道：穿過礦脈或與礦脈平行的礦井中水平或近似水平的巷道
A secondary mine passageway between two main shafts or tunnels.
次要礦山甬道：礦井中連接兩條大隧道的小巷道
A drove or herd, especially of swine.See Synonyms at flock
群集：畜群，尤指豬群參見 flock

來源：
From Middle English [drove, herd, act of driving] * see dhreibh-
源自 中古英語 [群，驅趕的動作] *參見 dhreibh-

【引伸】
drift.y
adj.（形容詞）