float vs drift

float and drift both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
float	Yes	No	Yes	No
drift	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, float and drift are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of float include be adrift, blow.

As verbs, drift is a hyponym of float; that is, drift is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than float:

Other hyponyms of float include tide, refloat.

float (noun)	drift (noun)
an air-filled sac near the spinal column in many fishes that helps maintain buoyancy	a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine
something that floats on the surface of water	the pervading meaning or tenor
a hand tool with a flat face used for smoothing and finishing the surface of plaster or cement or stucco	a general tendency to change (as of opinion)
an elaborate display mounted on a platform carried by a truck (or pulled by a truck) in a procession or parade	a large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents
a drink with ice cream floating in it	a force that moves something along
the number of shares outstanding and available for trading by the public	the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)
the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank and its payment	a process of linguistic change over a period of time

float (verb)	drift (verb)
convert from a fixed point notation to a floating point notation	be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current
allow (currencies) to fluctuate	be subject to fluctuation
make the surface of level or smooth	drive slowly and far afield for grazing
put into the water	move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
be in motion due to some air or water current	be in motion due to some air or water current
be afloat either on or below a liquid surface and not sink to the bottom	wander from a direct course or at random
set afloat	move in an unhurried fashion
move lightly, as if suspended	cause to be carried by a current
circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with	live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely
	vary or move from a fixed point or course