Tra từ drift - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

drift [drift drifts drifted drifting] noun, verb BrE [drɪft] NAmE [drɪft]
noun

SLOW MOVEMENT
1. singular, uncountable a slow steady movement from one place to another; a gradual change or development from one situation to another, especially to sth bad
•a population drift away from rural areas
•attempts to halt the drift towards war

OF SHIP
2. uncountable the movement of a ship or plane away from its direction because of currents or wind
•Remember to allow for drift.

OF SEA/AIR
3. uncountable, countable the movement of the sea or air
Syn: ↑current
•the general direction of drift on the east coast
•He knew the hidden drifts in that part of the river.

OF SNOW
4. countable a large pile of sth, especially snow, made by the wind
•The road was blocked by deep drifts of snow.
see also ↑snowdrift

OF FLOWERS
5. countable a large mass of sth, especially flowers
•Plant daffodils in informal drifts.

MEANING
6. singular the general meaning of what sb says or writes
Syn: ↑gist
•Do you catch my drift?
•My German isn't very good, but I got the drift of what she said.
see also ↑continental drift

Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘mass of snow, leaves, etc.’): originally from Old Norse drift ‘snowdrift, something driven’; in later use from Middle Dutch drift ‘course, current’.

Example Bank:
•He criticized the rightward drift of the party.
•I didn't follow the speech exactly, but I caught the main drift of what was being said.
•I lost the drift of what she was saying.
•his drift into crime
•the drift of people away from rural areas into urban slums
•Action is needed to prevent a drift into lawlessness.
•Do you catch my drift?
•I got the gist/drift of what she said.
•My German isn't very good, but I got the drift of what she said.
•No attempts were being made to halt the drift towards war.
•The polls show a drift back towards Labour.
Derived: ↑drift apart ▪ ↑drift off

verb

MOVE SLOWLY
1. intransitive (+ adv./prep.) to move along smoothly and slowly in water or air
•Clouds drifted across the sky.
•The empty boat drifted out to sea.
•A cool breeze drifted through the open window.
•Smoke drifted across the room.
2. intransitive + adv./prep. to move or go somewhere slowly
•The crowd drifted away from the scene of the accident.
•Her gaze drifted around the room.
•People began to drift back to their houses.

WITHOUT PURPOSE
3. intransitive (+ adv./prep.) to happen or change, or to do sth without a particular plan or purpose
•I didn't intend to be a teacher— I just drifted into it.
•He hasn't decided what to do yet— he's just drifting.
•The conversation drifted onto politics.

INTO STATE/SITUATION
4. intransitive ~ in/into sth to go from one situation or state to another without realizing it
•Finally she drifted into sleep.
•The injured man tried to speak but soon drifted into unconsciousness.

OF SNOW/SAND
5. intransitive to be blown into large piles by the wind
•drifting sand
•Some roads are closed because of drifting.

FLOAT
6. transitive + adv./prep. to make sth float somewhere
•The logs are drifted downstream to the mill.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘mass of snow, leaves, etc.’): originally from Old Norse drift ‘snowdrift, something driven’; in later use from Middle Dutch drift ‘course, current’.

Example Bank:
•Cold and hungry, they drifted helplessly closer to the Arctic.
•He allowed his thoughts to drift back to his conversation with Carrie.
•He drifted in and out of consciousness.
•He drifted into teaching, but never really enjoyed it.
•He drifted off into a deep slumber.
•He finally drifted back to his home town.
•He spent the day drifting aimlessly about the house.
•Her gaze gradually drifted to the bookshelf.
•Over the years the two friends drifted apart.
•She began to drift between sleep and wakefulness.
•She closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.
•She drifted across the room to where we were standing.
•Smoke drifted up from the campfire.
•The boat drifted slowly downstream.
•They were drifting out to sea.
•Voices drifted up through the floorboards.
•We drifted with the current.
•We seem to be drifting away from the point.
•A single snowflake drifted down and settled on the ground.
•His cigarette smoke drifted away on the breeze.
•I spent the next decade drifting aimlessly from place to place.
•The boat drifted out to sea.
•The crowd slowly drifted away from the scene.
•They drifted around south-east Asia for a while and then headed into China.
•White clouds drifted across the sky.