continental drift
nounUK /ˌkɒntɪˈnentl drɪft/
US /ˌkɑːntɪˈnentl drɪft/
The slow movement of the big land pieces on Earth over a very long time.
Continental drift explains why the shapes of Africa and South America fit together like puzzle pieces.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The gradual spread of ideas or customs from one continent to another.
The continental drift of music styles brought new rhythms to listeners worldwide.
3. A slow change in a group's thinking or habits over time.
There was a continental drift in the company's attitude toward remote work.
4. The theory that continents were once joined and later moved apart.
Scientists used continental drift to explain matching rock layers on distant shores.