drill

1 of 6

verb (1)

ˈdril 

drilled; drilling; drills

transitive verb

1

a

: to fix something in the mind or habit pattern of by repetitive instruction

drill pupils in spelling

b

: to impart or communicate by repetition

c

: to train or exercise in military drill

2

a(1)

: to bore or drive a hole in

(2)

: to make by piercing action

drill a hole

b

: to shoot with or as if with a gun

c(1)

: to propel (something, such as a ball) with force or accuracy

drilled a single to right field

(2)

: to hit with force

drilled the batter with the first pitch

intransitive verb

1

: to make a hole with a drill

2

: to engage in an exercise

drillability

ˌdri-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

drillable

ˈdri-lə-bəl 

adjective

driller

ˈdri-lər 

noun

drill

2 of 6

noun (1)

1

: an instrument with an edged or pointed end for making holes in hard substances by revolving or by a succession of blows

also : a machine for operating such an instrument

2

: the act or exercise of training soldiers in marching and in executing prescribed movements with a weapon

3

a

: a physical or mental exercise aimed at perfecting facility and skill especially by regular practice

b

: a formal exercise by a team of marchers

c

: the approved, correct, or usual procedure for accomplishing something : routine

4

a

: a marine snail (Urosalpinx cinerea) destructive to oysters by boring through their shells and feeding on the soft parts

b

: any of several mollusks related to the drill

5

: a drilling sound

drill

3 of 6

noun (2)

: a western African baboon (Mandrillus leucophaeus synonym Papio leucophaeus) having a black face and brown coat and closely related to the mandrill

drill

4 of 6

noun (3)

1

a

: a shallow furrow or trench into which seed is sown

b

: a row of seed sown in such a furrow

2

: a planting implement that makes holes or furrows, drops in the seed and sometimes fertilizer, and covers them with earth

drill

5 of 6

verb (2)

drilled; drilling; drills

transitive verb

1

: to sow (seeds) by dropping along a shallow furrow

2

a

: to sow with seed or set with seedlings inserted in drills

b

: to distribute seed or fertilizer in by means of a drill

drill

6 of 6

noun (4)

: a durable cotton twilled fabric

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• bore
• hole
• perforate
• pierce
• punch
• puncture
• riddle

Noun (1)

• grind
• groove
• lockstep
• pattern
• rote
• routine
• rut
• treadmill

Verb (2)

• plant
• put in
• seed
• sow

Examples of drill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Thirsk and her team drill the prince for possible pitfalls. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024

In 2018, Trump proposed opening federal waters along the entire Pacific Coast, as well as Alaska and the Atlantic Coast, to drilling for oil and gas. —Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024

In August 2023, the BLM approved the gold mining exploratory drilling project — which included reclaiming the lands disturbed by drilling holes in the project's 20-acre footprint — over the tribe's objections. —The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024

In an effort to increase the amount of salt water in the wetlands, boreholes were drilled to access subterranean salt water and bring it to the surface. —Bianca Nogrady, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024

The contractor drilled holes and mixed a slurry of cement and soil — creating little piers, about 20 feet deep, in the foundation. —Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024

In Iceland, engineers are drilling 5 km deep into magma reservoirs, boring down between two tectonic plates. —IEEE Spectrum, 12 Mar. 2024

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has also dismissed worries and said officials are addressing the water shortage by drilling new wells as well as repairing equipment to extract more water from existing wells. —Emily Green, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024

Rozier drilled another step-back three over Okoro — this one from the right wing with a side-step incorporated to create more space. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024

Noun

If, for example, China decides to make a move in the Taiwan Strait, Russia could simultaneously stage a provocative large-scale military drill in Europe, helping China by straining U.S. capacities to respond. —Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024

The kids, five and seven, constantly do drills to practice how to stay safe if there's a rocket attack or militants besiege their school. —USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024

Gossett portrayed Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, a drill instructor who served over Gere’s character Zack Mayo in the 1982 film. —Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024

Maye offers words of encouragement and affirmative nods of acknowledgment as his various teammates complete their drills. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024

Burrow sees Venture use that drill to move underground, becoming invulnerable in the process. —Kris Holt, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

The defensive units won all but one of the situational segments at the end of practice -- two-minute drills and get-the-ball-back periods -- as the second offense converted a first down and ran the clock almost to nothing in closing out the team drills. —Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 27 Mar. 2024

In the basement, old cabinets line the walls, filled with every type of brass fastener in the English imperial system as well as drills, bolts and screws in every size. —Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2024

In states prone to tornadoes, hail, or flash floods, Severe Weather Awareness Week is commemorated with days dedicated to sirens and drills, aimed at safeguarding both property and lives. —Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Dutch drillen

Noun (2)

origin unknown

Noun (3)

perhaps from drill small stream, from obsolete drill to trickle, drip

Noun (4)

short for drilling

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1619, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1644, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

circa 1740, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (4)

1743, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing drill

• breast drill
• drill down
• drill into
• drill press
• drill sergeant
• drill team
• fire drill
• know the drill
• oyster drill
• pneumatic drill
• pre-drill
• twist drill

Kids Definition

drill

1 of 5 noun

ˈdril 

1

: a tool for making holes in hard substances

2

: the training of soldiers in military skill and discipline

3

: a physical or mental exercise regularly practiced

4

: a marine snail that bores through oyster shells and feeds on the soft parts

drill

2 of 5 verb

1

: to instruct or train by repetition

drill a child in multiplication

drill troops

2

: to bore or make a hole in with or as if with a drill

drill a tooth

drill a hole

driller noun

drill

3 of 5 noun

1

: a shallow furrow or trench into which seed is sown

2

: a planting machine that makes holes or furrows, drops in seed, and covers it with earth

drill

4 of 5 verb

: to sow with or as if with a drill

drill

5 of 5 noun

: a strong cotton fabric in twill weave

Etymology

Noun

probably from Dutch dril "a tool for drilling holes," derived from early Dutch drillen (verb) "to drill"

Noun

perhaps from earlier drill "a trickling stream"

Noun

shortened from drilling "heavy cotton fabric," from German Drillich (same meaning)

Medical Definition

drill

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈdril 

: to make a hole in with a drill

the dentist drilled the tooth for a filling

intransitive verb

: to make a hole with a drill

painless dental drilling

drill

2 of 2 noun

: an instrument with an edged or pointed end for making holes in hard substances (as bones or teeth) by revolving