This is the 9614th most frequent French word.
dérive
"Drift" or "diversion"; can refer to a gradual movement or wandering off course.
In this sentence, 'dérive' refers to the natural phenomenon of drifting caused by currents, showing its application in a nautical context.
Le navire dévie à cause de la dérive des courants marins.
The ship is drifting due to the current drift.
Here, 'dérive' indicates a metaphorical deviation or digression in discourse or discussions.
Il y a eu une dérive dans les discussions, et le sujet principal a été oublié.
There was a drift in the discussions, and the main topic was forgotten.
In this example, 'dérive' refers to a conceptual drift or fluctuation, applied here in an artistic and human emotion context.