(physical) A movement or mass of matter that is driven or forced onward, often by wind or water, and can refer to anything driven at random, a collection of loose earth and rocks distributed by glaciers, a flock or drove of animals, the distance a current flows, driftwood washed up on a beach, the course or direction along which something is driven, or anything that is driven, forced, or urged along.

The act or motion of drifting; the force which impels or drives; an overpowering influence or impulse.

A place (a ford) along a river where the water is shallow enough to permit crossing to the opposite side.

The tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention; hence, also, import or meaning of a sentence or discourse; aim.

(architecture) The horizontal thrust or pressure of an arch or vault upon the abutments.

(handiwork) A tool used for enlarging or shaping a hole in metal, packing down composition in a rocket, or aligning and securing two pieces of material together.

A deviation from the line of fire, peculiar to obloid projectiles.

(uncountable) Minor deviation of audio or video playback from its correct speed.

(uncountable, film) The situation where a performer gradually and unintentionally moves from their proper location within the scene.

(mining) A noun "drift" represents various forms related to mining, including a passage between shafts, a tunnel for exploration or haulage, a deviation from the intended course, and a heading driven through a coal seam.

(nautical) A noun "drift" represents movement, specifically the angle of a ship's motion, the distance a vessel is carried off course, a specific part of a deep-waisted vessel, the distance between two blocks of a tackle, and the difference in size between a bolt and the hole it is driven into or a hoop and the mast it is driven onto.

(cricket) A sideways movement of the ball through the air, when bowled by a spin bowler.

Slow, cumulative change.

In New Forest National Park, UK, the bi-annual round-up of wild ponies in order to be sold.

(intransitive) To move slowly, especially pushed by currents of water, air, etc.

(intransitive) To move haphazardly without any destination.

(intransitive) To deviate gently from the intended direction of travel.

(transitive) To drive or carry, as currents do a floating body.

(transitive) To drive into heaps.

(intransitive) To accumulate in heaps by the force of wind; to be driven into heaps.

(mining, US) To make a drift; to examine a vein or ledge for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of metals or ores; to follow a vein; to prospect.

(transitive, engineering) To enlarge or shape, as a hole, with a drift.

(automotive) To oversteer a vehicle, causing loss of traction, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner. See Drifting (motorsport).