drift

drift, float

这两个动词均有“漂流，漂浮”之意。
drift: 多指随风或顺水飘荡，表示动态。
float: 可与drift换用，但侧重指因有液体或气体所支持而不下沉，可表动态或静态。

名词 drift:

1. a force that moves something along
   同义词：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)
   同义词：trend, movement
6. the pervading meaning or tenor
   同义词：purport
7. a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine
   同义词：heading, gallery

动词 drift:

1. be in motion due to some air or water current
   同义词：float, be adrift, blow
2. wander from a direct course or at random
   同义词：stray, err
3. move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
   同义词：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
   同义词：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.
   在大家到齐之後两小时，她终於姗姗来到。
2. A tiny fishing boat was drifting slowly along.
   一只小小的渔船在缓缓地漂去。
3. The road was edged with snow drifts.
   路边上有一个个雪堆。

drift

v.（动词）
drift.ed,drift.ing,drifts
v.intr.（不及物动词）
To be carried along by currents of air or water:
流动：被气流或水流携带：
例句：
a balloon drifting eastward; as the wreckage drifted toward shore.
向东飘的汽球；船骸漂向海岸

To proceed or move unhurriedly and smoothly:
随意移动：从容平稳地前进或移动：
例句：
drifting among the party guests.
在晚会客人中随意走动

To move leisurely or sporadically from place to place, especially without purpose or regular employment:
漂泊：闲适地或不定期地从一个地方到另一个地方，尤指无目的或无固定职业地：
例句：
a day laborer, drifting from town to town.
临时工从一个城镇漂泊到另一个城镇

To wander from a set course or point of attention; stray.
偏离：离开一定的路线或注意点；游离
To vary from or oscillate randomly about a fixed setting, position, or mode of operation.
任意改变：改变固定的环境、位置或工作模式或在其附近随意摇摆
To be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of a current:
堆积：由于气流等的力量而被堆积：
例句：
snow drifting to five feet.
吹积成五英尺厚的雪堆

v.tr.（及物动词）
To cause to be carried in a current:
漂流：被气流或水流携带：
例句：
drifting the logs downstream.
让木头向下漂游

To pile up in banks or heaps:
堆积成堆：
例句：
Wind drifted the loose straw against the barn.
风把散落的稻草吹得靠谷仓堆积起来

Western U.S. To drive (livestock) slowly or far afield, especially for grazing.
【美国西部】 驱赶：慢慢地或在野地里赶（牲口），尤指为了放牧
n.（名词）
The act or condition of drifting.
漂：漂的动作或状态
Something moving along in a current of air or water.
漂流物：随气流或水流移动的东西
A bank or pile, as of sand or snow, heaped up by currents of air or water.
吹积物：被气流或水流聚成的堆，如沙或雪
Geology Rock debris transported and deposited by or from ice, especially by or from a glacier.
【地质学】 冰碛：由或从冰，尤其是冰山，移动和沉积的碎屑

A general trend or tendency, as of opinion.See Synonyms at tendency
潮流：总的倾向，如指观点参见 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.
把握对话的要旨

A gradual change in position.
位置的逐渐变化
A gradual deviation from an original course, model, method, or intention.
逐渐越轨：从初始的路线、模式、方式或目的的逐渐偏离
Variation or random oscillation about a fixed setting, position, or mode of behavior.
随意摇动：对固定环境、位置或行为模式的改变或任意摇摆
A gradual change in the output of a circuit or amplifier.
逐渐改变：电路或放大器输出功率的逐渐改变
The rate of flow of a water current.
水流的速度

A tool for ramming or driving something down.
用来撞击的工具：将某物冲下或赶下去的工具
A tapered steel pin for enlarging and aligning holes.
打孔器：用来扩大或调整孔洞的尖钢针

A horizontal or nearly horizontal passageway in a mine running through or parallel to a vein.
水平巷道：穿过矿脉或与矿脉平行的矿井中水平或近似水平的巷道
A secondary mine passageway between two main shafts or tunnels.
次要矿山甬道：矿井中连接两条大隧道的小巷道
A drove or herd, especially of swine.See Synonyms at flock
群集：畜群，尤指猪群参见 flock

来源：
From Middle English [drove, herd, act of driving] * see dhreibh-
源自 中古英语 [群，驱赶的动作] *参见 dhreibh-

【引伸】
drift.y
adj.（形容词）