[; ]a gradual change or development from one situation to another, especially to sth bad; a slow, steady movement from one place to another逐渐变化；漂流◆a downward drift in inflation通货膨胀的缓慢下降◆a long period of drift or decline in the markets市场长时期的缓慢下滑◆a drift to the cities城市化趋势wage drift