trickle

¹trick·le

intransitive verb \ˈtri-kəl\

: to flow or fall in drops

: to move or go slowly in small numbers or amounts

trick·ledtrick·ling \-k(ə-)liŋ\

Full Definition of TRICKLE

1

a :  to issue or fall in drops

b :  to flow in a thin gentle stream

2

a :  to move or go one by one or little by little <customers began to trickle in>

b :  to dissipate slowly <his enthusiasm trickled away>

Examples of TRICKLE

1. Tears trickled down her cheeks.
2. Water was trickling out of the gutter.
3. People trickled into the theater.
4. Donations have been trickling in.

Origin of TRICKLE

Middle English trikelen, of imitative origin

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to TRICKLE

Synonyms

distill (also distil), dribble, drop, drip

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

Rhymes with TRICKLE

brickle, chicle, fickle, mickle, nickel, pickle, prickle, sickle, stickle, tical, tickle

²trickle

noun

: a slow, thin flow of water

: a slow movement of people or things in small numbers or amounts

Full Definition of TRICKLE

:  a thin, slow, or intermittent stream or movement

Examples of TRICKLE

1. We heard the trickle of water from the roof.
2. The flow of water slowed to a trickle.
3. Sales have slowed to a trickle in recent weeks.
4. A slow trickle of customers came into the store throughout the day.

First Known Use of TRICKLE

1580

Rhymes with TRICKLE

mickle, pickle, prickle, sickle, tickle