drift

ir a la deriva, flotar

Moverse lentamente llevado por el aire o el agua, sin impulsarse por cuenta propia.

En inglés sencillo: To move slowly, carried by air or water rather than by your own power.

• Clouds drift across the sky.
• Our boat drifted towards the rocks.
• A piece of wood was drifting along the river.

Cómo se usa: drift towards/away from something (The boat drifted away from the shore.); drift across/along something (Smoke drifted across the field.)

Sinónimos: float

Expresiones frecuentes: drift away, drift across something, drift towards something

descender suavemente, caer lentamente

Bajar lentamente por el aire hacia el suelo.

En inglés sencillo: To move slowly down through the air towards the ground.

• Snowflakes drift down from the sky.
• A yellow leaf drifted gently to the ground.
• We watched the feathers drifting down around us.

Cómo se usa: drift down to something (The feather drifted down to the grass.)

Sinónimos: float down, descend

Antónimos: rise

Expresiones frecuentes: drift down, drift to earth, drift downwards

derrapar

Conducir un coche en una curva controlando su deslizamiento lateral.

En inglés sencillo: To drive a car around a bend while controlling its sideways slide.

• She can drift a car safely.
• The driver drifted around the final bend.
• They practise drifting on a closed racing track.

Sinónimos: powerslide

Expresiones frecuentes: drift a car, drift around corners

montón, ventisquero

Montón de nieve, arena u otro material reunido por el viento o el agua.

En inglés sencillo: A pile of snow, sand, or other material collected together by wind or water.

• A deep drift blocked the road.
• The wind left drifts of sand against the wall.
• We dug a path through the snow drifts.

Cómo se usa: a drift of something (A drift of snow covered the steps.)

Sinónimos: pile, bank, heap

Expresiones frecuentes: a snow drift, a sand drift, drift of snow

deriva, cambio gradual

Cambio lento que se va produciendo con el tiempo, a menudo sin que nadie lo planee.

En inglés sencillo: A slow change that builds up over time, often without anyone planning it.

• We noticed a slow drift in public opinion.
• Genetic drift can change small animal populations.
• The report describes a drift away from traditional values.

Cómo se usa: a drift towards/away from something (There has been a gradual drift towards stricter rules.)

Sinónimos: shift, change

Expresiones frecuentes: genetic drift, drift towards something, gradual drift