1. vt. & vi.飘，漂流　 float or be driven along by wind, waves, or currents
2. vt. & vi.（使）堆积　 (cause to) pile up under the force of the wind or water

　～ aimlessly〔casually〕　漫无目的地漂流
　～ alternately　有变化地漂流
　～ delightfully　高兴地漂流
　～ hopelessly　无希望地漂流
　～ lazily　懒惰地漂流
　～ naturally　自然地堆积
　～ quietly〔smoothly〕　平静地漂流
　～ slowly　慢慢地漂流
　～ unconsciously　不自觉地漂流
　～ about in sea　在海中四处漂泊
　～ along　漫无目的地游荡，迷迷糊糊地过日子
　～ apart　分开，疏远下去，放任自流
　～ out to sea　漂往大海
　～ before wind　（船）随风漂流
　～ down river　沿河而下
　～ down stream　顺流而下
　～ from chimney　（烟）从烟囱里飘出来
　～ from one country to another　从一国流浪到另一国
　～ from one subject to another　从一个主题转到另一个主题
　～ into habit　逐渐染上习惯
　～ into high banks　积成高高的堆
　～ into life of crime　陷入犯罪生涯
　～ through life　随波逐流，虚度年华
　～ to some subject　转向某个问题
　～ towards bankruptcy　逐渐走向破产
　～ towards collapse　渐趋崩溃
　～ with　随…漂流
　～ with current　随波逐流

　The snow had drifted everywhere.　雪飘至各处。
　The moon drifted from behind the clouds.　月亮从云层后浮现。
　She drifted into sleep.　她迷迷糊糊地睡着了。
　Some people have a purpose in life, others just drift.　有些人有生活目标，而有些人只是浑噩度日。
　She just drifts aimlessly from job to job.　她只是漫无目的地不断更换工作。
　The current drifted the boat.　水流把船冲走了。
　The wind drifted the leaves across our yard.　风把树叶吹过院子。
　The house was partly drifted up.　房子被积雪埋掉了一截。
　The logs were drifted down to the sawmill.　那些圆木是顺流漂到锯木厂去的。

 ♣ drift along　(v.+adv.)
1. 慢慢向前漂〔飘〕 move slowly forward in no particular direction
　The boat drifted along, with the child asleep inside it and no one guiding its direction.　小船缓缓向前漂去，船上的孩子睡着了，无人掌舵。
　The current was drifting us along.　水流将我们漂走。
2. 游荡，混日子 act aimlessly in lift
　He's still drifting along, without a proper job or any sense of purpose.　他仍在混日子，既无正当职业，又无任何志向。
 ♣ drift apart　(v.+adv.)
1. 漂离；飘离；分离 become separated, as by water
　The two small boats drifted apart in the storm, and lost each other.　那两只小船被风浪冲散，失去了联系。
2. 在思想、感情等方面疏远 become separate in thought, feeling, etc.
　After twelve years of marriage, the two people began to drift apart.　结婚12年后，两人开始彼此疏远。
　They used to be friends, but now they've drifted apart.　他们原来是朋友，但现在已疏远了。
 ♣ drift away　(v.+adv.)
1. 慢慢飘〔走〕，逐渐离去 be carried away slowly, as by wind or water; leave gradually
　The piece of paper fell onto the surface of the river and drifted away out of sight.　这张纸掉到了河面上，漂走看不见了。
　People could be seen drifting away before the end of the concert.　音乐会还没结束，人们就逐渐离去了。
2. 开始用不同的方式思考或感觉 begin to think and feel in a different way (from sb or sth)
　As children grow up, they drift away from their parents' views.　孩子们长大以后就不再按父母的观点考虑问题了。
 ♣ drift in　(v.+adv.)
1. 漂；飘入 be carried in, as by water or wind
　A small boat drifted in during the night, with no one on board.　夜间漂来一条小船，船上没人。
　Some leaves have drifted in, we'd better sweep them out.　一些树叶飘了进来，我们最好把它们扫出去。
　The aroma of coffee drifted in from the kitchen.　咖啡的香味从厨房里飘来。
2. 偶尔到来，顺便来访 arrive, informally
　Two of Jane's friends drifted in last night, and are staying here.　昨夜简的两个朋友来了，现在还留在这里。
 ♣ drift out　(v.+adv.)
1. 漂（出去），漂（走） be carried out, as by water
　In the storm the boat drifted out to sea.　在暴风雨中，那条船漂进了大海。
2. 散开；蔓延 spread; move slowly or informally
　When the lid came off the box, loose papers drifted out.　箱子盖掉了，纸片儿撒了出来。
　The crowd drifted out after the performance.　演出结束后，观众四散而去。
 ♣ drift towards　(v.+prep.)
　〔说明〕 drift towards不用于被动结构，常用于进行体。
1. 飘或漂向…（通常指某处） be carried by water or wind towards (usually point at someplace)
　With any luck, this boat will drift towards the shore.　幸运的话，这条船会漂到岸边。
2. 因未受阻而逐渐达到（某种状态等） gradually reach (sth such as a state) without making any effort to prevent it
　Is the world drifting towards war?　世界是否正滑向战争?
　The business seems to be drifting towards failure.　这行业看来正渐趋衰落。
　Is the government drifting towards collapse?　该政府正逐渐走向崩溃吗?

 ♣ drift, float
　参见float条。

1. U 漂移，漂流　drifting movement
2. C 吹积物；堆积物　a mass of sth, such as snow or sand, blown together by wind
3. U 趋势，动向，倾向　a general tendency or movement
4. S 大意，要点，主旨　the general meaning

　catch〔get, understand〕 ～　明白要旨
　cultural ～　文化倾向
　the general ～　大的趋势
　the westward ～　西迁
　cloud ～　浮云
　road ～　路上积起的沙土
　a ～ of cloud〔snow〕　浮云〔积雪〕
　the ～ of 　…的趋势
　a ～ toward 　…的倾向

　The drift of the icebergs in the sea endangers the ships.　海上冰山的漂流危及船只的安全。
　The saplings were buried in drifts of snow.　树苗被堆起来的雪埋住了。
　There is a slow drift into crisis.　有一种渐入危机的趋势。
　The drift of young people from the country to the city deserves the authorities' notice.　年轻人从乡村涌向城市的趋势值得官方注意。
　My English is not very good, but I got the general drift of what he said.　我英语不太好，但他说的话我大致能听懂。

　［同义词］ n. direction, intention, tendency