dribble

¹drib·ble

verb \ˈdri-bəl\

drib·bleddrib·bling\-(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of DRIBBLE

transitive verb

1

: to issue sporadically and in small bits

2

: to let or cause to fall in drops little by little

3

a : to propel by successive slight taps or bounces with hand, foot, or stick <dribble a basketball> <dribble a puck> b : to hit (as a baseball) so as to cause a slow bouncing

intransitive verb

1

: to fall or flow in drops or in a thin intermittent stream : trickle

2

: to let saliva trickle from the corner of the mouth : drool

3

: to come or issue in piecemeal or desultory fashion

4

a : to dribble a ball or puck b : to proceed by dribbling c of a ball : to move with short bounces

— drib·bler \-b(ə-)lər\ noun

Examples of DRIBBLE

1. Juice dribbled down his chin.
2. She accidentally dribbled wine onto the rug.
3. Dribble olive oil over the warm bread before serving.
4. She dribbled across the basketball court.
5. He skillfully dribbled the soccer ball towards the goal.

Origin of DRIBBLE

frequentative of drib to dribble

First Known Use: circa 1589

Related to DRIBBLE

Synonyms: distill (also distil), drip, drop, trickle

Antonyms: pour, roll, stream

Related Words: drizzle, sprinkle; flow, pour, roll, run, stream; cascade, gutter, riffle, ripple; bleed, exude, ooze, seep, weep; discharge

Near Antonyms: gush, spout, spurt

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with DRIBBLE

dibble, fribble, gribble, kibble, nibble, quibble, scribble, sibyl