The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word DRIFTS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
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Buddy explains!
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DRIFTS mean?
DRIFTS noun- (physical) Movement; that which moves or is moved.
- The act or motion of drifting; the force which impels or drives; an overpowering influence or impulse.
- A place (a ford) along a river where the water is shallow enough to permit crossing to the opposite side.
- The tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like; object aimed at or intended; intention; hence, also, import or meaning of a sentence or discourse; aim.
- The horizontal thrust or pressure of an arch or vault upon the abutments.
- (handiwork) A tool.
- A deviation from the line of fire, peculiar to oblong projectiles.
- Minor deviation of audio or video playback from its correct speed.
- The situation where a performer gradually and unintentionally moves from their proper location within the scene.
- A passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway; a small subterranean gallery; an adit or tunnel.
- Movement.
- A sideways movement of the ball through the air, when bowled by a spin bowler.
- Slow, cumulative change.
- To move slowly, especially pushed by currents of water, air, etc.
- To move haphazardly without any destination.
- To deviate gently from the intended direction of travel.
- To drive or carry, as currents do a floating body.
- To drive into heaps.
- To accumulate in heaps by the force of wind; to be driven into heaps.
- To make a drift; to examine a vein or ledge for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of metals or ores; to follow a vein; to prospect.
- To enlarge or shape, as a hole, with a drift.
- To oversteer a vehicle, causing loss of traction, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner. See Drifting (motorsport).