Missing sailors - ten adrift (6)
I believe the answer is:
absent
'missing' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'sailors ten adrift' is the wordplay.
'sailors' becomes 'abs' (AB is short for able seaman).
'adrift' is an anagram indicator.
'ten' is an anagram of 'ent'.
'abs'+'ent'='ABSENT'
(Other definitions for absent that I've seen before include "Missing, lacking" , "Not attending" , "Forgetful, with mind on other things" , "Not at a specified place" , "elsewhere" .)