Adjacent Words

Drill definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DRILL, v.t. [G.]
1. To pierce with a drill; to perforate by turning a sharp pointed instrument of a particular form; to bore and make a hole by turning an instrument. We say, to drill a hole through a piece of metal, or to drill a cannon.
2. To draw on; to entice; to amuse and put off.
She drilled him on to five and fifty. [Not elegant.]
3. To draw on from step to step. [Not elegant.]
4. To draw through; to drain; as, waters drilled through a sandy stratum.
5. In a military sense, to teach and train raw soldiers to their duty, by frequent exercise; a common and appropriate use of the word.
6. In husbandry, to sow grain in rows, drills or channels.
DRILL, v.t.
1. To sow in drills.
2. To flow gently.
3. To muster, for exercise.
DRILL, n.
1. A pointed instrument, used for boring holes, particularly in metals and other hard substances.
2. An ape or baboon.
3. The act of training soldiers to their duty.
4. A small stream; now called a rill. [Drill is formed on the root of rill, G., a channel.]
5. In husbandry, a row of grain, sowed by a drill-plow.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a tool with a sharp point and cutting edges for making holes in hard materials (usually rotating rapidly or by repeated blows)
2: similar to the mandrill but smaller and less brightly colored [syn: drill, Mandrillus leucophaeus]
3: systematic training by multiple repetitions; "practice makes perfect" [syn: exercise, practice, drill, practice session, recitation]
4: (military) the training of soldiers to march (as in ceremonial parades) or to perform the manual of arms v
1: make a hole, especially with a pointed power or hand tool; "don't drill here, there's a gas pipe"; "drill a hole into the wall"; "drill for oil"; "carpenter bees are boring holes into the wall" [syn: bore, drill]
2: train in the military, e.g., in the use of weapons
3: learn by repetition; "We drilled French verbs every day"; "Pianists practice scales" [syn: drill, exercise, practice, practise]
4: teach by repetition
5: undergo military training or do military exercises

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: Dutch drillen Date: 1619 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 <impossible to drill the simplest idea into some people> 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 (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 noun • drillable adjective • driller noun II. noun Date: 1611 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 III. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1644 a western African baboon (Mandrillus leucophaeus syn. Papio leucophaeus) having a black face and brown coat and closely related to the typical mandrills IV. noun Etymology: perhaps from drill small stream, from obsolete drill to trickle, drip Date: 1727 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 V. transitive verb Date: circa 1740 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 VI. noun Etymology: short for drilling Date: 1743 a durable cotton twilled fabric

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 a pointed, esp. revolving, steel tool or machine used for boring cylindrical holes, sinking wells, etc. 2 a esp. Mil. instruction or training in military exercises. b rigorous discipline or methodical instruction, esp. when learning or performing tasks. c routine procedure to be followed in an emergency (fire-drill). d a routine or exercise (drills in irregular verb patterns). 3 colloq. a recognized procedure (I expect you know the drill). 4 any of various molluscs, esp. Urosalpinx cinera, that bore into the shells of young oysters. --v. 1 tr. (also absol.) a (of a person or a tool) make a hole with a drill through or into (wood, metal, etc.). b make (a hole) with a drill. 2 tr. & intr. esp. Mil. subject to or undergo discipline by drill. 3 tr. impart (knowledge etc.) by a strict method. 4 tr. sl. shoot with a gun (drilled him full of holes). Derivatives: driller n. Etymology: earlier as verb, f. MDu. drillen bore, of unkn. orig. 2. n. & v. --n. 1 a machine used for making furrows, sowing, and covering seed. 2 a small furrow for sowing seed in. 3 a ridge with such furrows on top. 4 a row of plants so sown. --v.tr. 1 sow (seed) with a drill. 2 plant (the ground) in drills. Etymology: perh. f. obs. drill rill (17th c., of unkn. orig.) 3. n. a W. African baboon, Papio leucophaeus, related to the mandrill. Etymology: prob. a native name: cf. MANDRILL 4. n. a coarse twilled cotton or linen fabric. Etymology: earlier drilling f. G Drillich f. L trilix -licis f. tri- three + licium thread

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Drill Drill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Drilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Drilling.] [D. drillen to bore, drill (soldiers); probably akin to AS. pyrlian, pyrelian, to pierce. See Thrill.] 1. To pierce or bore with a drill, or a with a drill; to perforate; as, to drill a hole into a rock; to drill a piece of metal. 2. To train in the military art; to exercise diligently, as soldiers, in military evolutions and exercises; hence, to instruct thoroughly in the rudiments of any art or branch of knowledge; to discipline. He [Frederic the Great] drilled his people, as he drilled his grenadiers. -- Macaulay.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Drill Drill, v. t. [Cf. Trill to trickle, Trickle, Dribble, and W. rhillio to put in a row, drill.] 1. To cause to flow in drills or rills or by trickling; to drain by trickling; as, waters drilled through a sandy stratum. [R.] --Thomson. 2. To sow, as seeds, by dribbling them along a furrow or in a row, like a trickling rill of water. 3. To entice; to allure from step; to decoy; -- with on. [Obs.] See drilled him on to five-fifty. -- Addison. 4. To cause to slip or waste away by degrees. [Obs.] This accident hath drilled away the whole summer. -- Swift.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Drill Drill, v. i. To practice an exercise or exercises; to train one's self.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Drill Drill, n. 1. An instrument with an edged or pointed end used for making holes in hard substances; strictly, a tool that cuts with its end, by revolving, as in drilling metals, or by a succession of blows, as in drilling stone; also, a drill press. 2. (Mil.) The act or exercise of training soldiers in the military art, as in the manual of arms, in the execution of evolutions, and the like; hence, diligent and strict instruction and exercise in the rudiments and methods of any business; a kind or method of military exercises; as, infantry drill; battalion drill; artillery drill. 3. Any exercise, physical or mental, enforced with regularity and by constant repetition; as, a severe drill in Latin grammar. 4. (Zo["o]l.) A marine gastropod, of several species, which kills oysters and other bivalves by drilling holes through the shell. The most destructive kind is Urosalpinx cinerea. Bow drill, Breast drill. See under Bow, Breast. Cotter drill, or Traverse drill, a machine tool for drilling slots. Diamond drill. See under Diamond. Drill jig. See under Jig. Drill pin, the pin in a lock which enters the hollow stem of the key. Drill sergeant (Mil.), a noncommissioned officer whose office it is to instruct soldiers as to their duties, and to train them to military exercises and evolutions. Vertical drill, a drill press.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Drill Drill, n. [Cf. Mandrill.] (Zo["o]l.) A large African baboon (Cynocephalus leucoph[ae]us).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Drill Drill, v. i. 1. To trickle. [Obs. or R.] --Sandys. 2. To sow in drills.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Drill Drill, n. 1. A small trickling stream; a rill. [Obs.] Springs through the pleasant meadows pour their drills. --Sandys. 2. (Agr.) (a) An implement for making holes for sowing seed, and sometimes so formed as to contain seeds and drop them into the hole made. (b) A light furrow or channel made to put seed into sowing. (c) A row of seed sown in a furrow.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Drill Drill, n. [Usually in pl.] (Manuf.) Same as Drilling. Imperial drill, a linen fabric having two threads in the warp and three in the filling.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(drills, drilling, drilled) 1. A drill is a tool or machine that you use for making holes. ...pneumatic drills. ...a dentist's drill. N-COUNT 2. When you drill into something or drill a hole in something, you make a hole in it using a drill. He drilled into the wall of Lili's bedroom... I drilled five holes at equal distance. VERB: V prep, V n 3. When people drill for oil or water, they search for it by drilling deep holes in the ground or in the bottom of the sea. There have been proposals to drill for more oil... The team is still drilling. VERB: V for n, V • drilling Drilling is due to start early next year. 4. A drill is a way that teachers teach their students something by making them repeat it many times. The teacher runs them through a drill–the days of the week, the weather and some counting. N-COUNT 5. If you drill people, you teach them to do something by making them repeat it many times. He drills the choir to a high standard. VERB: V n 6. A drill is repeated training for a group of people, especially soldiers, so that they can do something quickly and efficiently. The Marines carried out a drill that included 18 ships and 90 aircraft... N-VAR: oft N n 7. A drill is a routine exercise or activity, in which people practise what they should do in dangerous situations. ...a fire drill. ...air-raid drills. N-COUNT: oft n N

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Borer, boring-tool. 2. Military training, exercise in tactics. 3. Training, discipline. 4. Furrow, channel, trench (for planting). 5. Planting-machine. II. v. a. 1. Pierce, perforate, bore. 2. Exercise in tactics, train in martial exercises. 3. Instruct, exercise, teach, train.

Moby Thesaurus

SOP, accustom, aculeus, acumination, application, apprentice, apprenticeship, athletics, auger, basic training, bed, bit, bite, bone, boning, bore, bore bit, borer, brace and bit, brainwork, break, break in, breaking, breast auger, breast drill, breather, breed, breeding, bring up, broach, broadcast, burr, burrow, calisthenics, chamfer bit, coach, common practice, con, condition, conditioning, conning, constitutional, contemplate, contemplation, corkscrew, countersink, cram, cramming, cross bit, cultivate, cultivation, cusp, daily dozen, deepen, delve, depress, develop, development, diamond drill, dibble, dig, dig out, dike, discipline, disseminate, dive, dredge, drill press, drilling, drive, elucubrate, empierce, engrossment, examine, excavate, exercise, exercising, extensive study, fetch up, fetching-up, fit, fix, forest, form, foster, fostering, furrow, gimlet, go over, gore, gouge, gouge out, grind, grinding, groom, grooming, groove, grub, gymnastic exercises, gymnastics, habituate, hand drill, headwork, hole, honeycomb, house-train, housebreak, housebreaking, impale, implant, improve, improvement, in-service training, indoctrinate, inseminate, inspection, instruct, isometrics, keyway drill, lance, lick into shape, lower, lucubrate, lucubration, manual training, matter of course, mental labor, military training, mine, mucro, neb, needle, nib, nurse, nurture, nurturing, on-the-job training, penetrate, perforate, perusal, peruse, physical education, physical jerks, pierce, pink, plant, plunge into, point, pore over, portable drill, posthole auger, pot, power drill, practice, preparation, prepare, prescribed form, prick, prickle, procedure, pump drill, punch, puncture, put in, put in tune, put to school, quarry, raise, raising, ratchet drill, read, reading, ready, readying, ream, ream out, reamer, rear, rearing, reforest, regard studiously, rehearsal, rehearse, repetition, reset, restudy, restudying, retimber, review, riddle, rotary drill, rule, run through, sap, scatter seed, school, scoop, scoop out, scrabble, scrape, scratch, seed, seed down, seminate, send to school, set, set form, setting-up exercises, shovel, sink, skewer, sloyd, sow, sow broadcast, spade, spear, spike, spit, stab, standard operating procedure, standing orders, star drill, stick, sting, strap drill, stretch, study, studying, subject, swot, swotting, take in hand, tap, teach, tip, train, training, transfix, transpierce, transplant, trench, trepan, trephine, trough, tunnel, tutor, twist bit, twist drill, upbringing, vet, vocational education, vocational training, wade through, wide reading, wimble, workout, yoga