From Middle Dutch drillen (“bore, move in a circle”).
Meanings
A tool or machine used to remove material so as to create a hole, typically by plunging a rotating cutting bit into a stationary workpiece.
Wear safety glasses when operating an electric drill.
The portion of a drilling tool that drives the bit.
Use a drill with a wire brush to remove any rust or buildup.
An activity done as an exercise or practice (especially a military exercise), particularly in preparation for some possible future event or occurrence.
fire drill
Regular drills can ensure that everyone knows how to exit safely in an emergency.
disaster drill
emergency drill
“[…] if you call my duds a ‘livery’ again there'll be trouble. It's bad enough to go around togged out like a life saver on a drill day, but I can stand that 'cause I'm paid for it. What I won't stand is to have them togs called a livery. […]” 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
A short and highly repeatable sports training exercise designed to hone a particular skill that may be useful in competition.
At today's practice, the football team performed a variety of goalkeeping drills.
Any of several molluscs, of the genus Urosalpinx and others, especially the oyster drill (Urosalpinx cinerea), that make holes in the shells of their prey.
(uncountable) A style of trap music with gritty, violent lyrics, originating on the South Side of Chicago.
Though the young women of Chicago’s drill scene can be as rowdy as their male counterparts, they’re also more diverse in subject matter and point to a possible way forward. 2012 October 4, Jon Caramanica, “Chicago Hip-Hop’s Raw Burst of Change”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
Between ticky off-kilter rhythms and otherworldly digital voice processing, the experimental hip-hop genres trap and drill have delivered radical hymns from alien planets. 2022, W. David Marx, chapter 10, in Status and Culture, Viking, →ISBN:
New York City mayor Eric Adams held a summit with a group of drill rappers on Tuesday night and clarified he doesn’t actually want to ban their music, days after he appeared to blame the music scene for the recent shooting deaths of two young New York rappers and suggested drill videos be pulled from the internet. 2022 February 18, Wilfred Chan, “Eric Adams meets with the drill rappers whose music he said he wanted to ban”, in The Guardian:
(countable) A single performance of drill music.
These bells are alarmin’
Point blank and you missed your target
They go shooting range and their drills are garbage 2020 November 19, (67) PR SAD, “One Wish” (0:55 from the start):
sh bušilica (tool) · uk бормаши́на (tool) · be дрыль (tool) · pt broca (driving part of a drill) · da boremaskine (tool) · ru сверло́ (driving part of a drill) · hu fúrófej (driving part of a drill) · sw kwata (activity done as an exercise or practice) · be трэніро́ўка (activity done as an exercise or practice) · ga druilire (tool) · ru трениро́вка (activity done as an exercise or practice) · fy boarmasine (tool) · mk ду́пчалка (tool) · yi עקבער (tool) · cy dril m tyllwr (tool) · it esercitazione (activity done as an exercise or practice) · sh бушилица (tool) · he מקדחה (tool) · mt driller (tool) · it trapano (tool) · sv borrmaskin (tool) · mi hōrete (tool) · ka ბურღი (tool) · mk егзерци́р (activity done as an exercise or practice) · mt trapan (tool) · ja 訓練 (activity done as an exercise or practice) · be бормашы́на (tool) · csb bórmaszinka (tool) · id simulasi (activity done as an exercise or practice) · eo drilo (tool) · es barrena (tool) · de Bohrer (tool) · ru пёрка (driving part of a drill) · no bor (tool) · bg строева́ подгото́вка (activity done as an exercise or practice) · hy դռել (tool) · grc ἀρίς (tool) · pl wiertarka (tool) · pt simulação (activity done as an exercise or practice) · ro sfredel (tool) · es simulacro (activity done as an exercise or practice) · nrf drîn (tool) · mi tūwiri (tool) · eo borilo (tool) · ar لقمة ثقب (driving part of a drill) · kl qillerut (tool) · ar نِظام مُنْضَمّ (activity done as an exercise or practice) · mk стро́ева о́бука (activity done as an exercise or practice) · hu fúró (tool) · id bor (tool) · io borilo (tool) · ota مثقب (tool) · ckb سمەک (tool) · et trellpuur (tool) · fa دریل (tool) · vi thực hành (activity done as an exercise or practice) · ast táladru (tool) · sv drill (activity done as an exercise or practice) · et trell (tool) · ky дрель (tool) · el άσκηση (activity done as an exercise or practice) · tl barena (tool) · bg бурги́я (driving part of a drill) · cmn 鑽 /钻 (tool) · fr exercice (activity done as an exercise or practice) · cmn 訓練 /训练 (activity done as an exercise or practice) · id mata bor (driving part of a drill) · ast barrenu (tool) · sl vrtalnik (tool) · sk vŕtačka (tool) · fi kaira (tool) · izh pura (tool) · hu gyakorlatozás (activity done as an exercise or practice) · ro burghiu (tool) · ar مِثْقَاب (tool) · ba күнегеү (activity done as an exercise or practice) · kk бәрбі (tool) · hu fúrógép (tool) · gl trade (tool) · fi harjoite (activity done as an exercise or practice) · bg бо́рмашина (tool) · ru дрель (tool) · sq turjelë (tool) · hi ड्रिल (tool) · cs vrtačka (tool) · ru коловоро́т (tool) · az burğu (tool) · pt furadeira (tool) · ko 훈련 (activity done as an exercise or practice) · fa مته (tool) · alt ӧрӱм (tool) · ko 드릴 (tool) · id jara (tool) · uz drel (tool) · ru муштра́ (activity done as an exercise or practice) · ms gerudi (tool) · bg трениро́вка (activity done as an exercise or practice) · fi pora (tool) · fr perceuse (tool) · fr entraînement (activity done as an exercise or practice) · pt treinamento (activity done as an exercise or practice) · bho बरमा (tool) · fa درل (tool) · fi harjoitus (activity done as an exercise or practice) · id latihan (activity done as an exercise or practice) · es taladradora (tool) · sv borr (driving part of a drill) · nb boremaskin (tool) · th สว่าน (tool) · id dril (activity done as an exercise or practice) · ja ドリル (tool) · ru строева́я подгото́вка (activity done as an exercise or practice) · hi बरमा (tool) · gl broca (driving part of a drill) · uk дриль (tool) · hu gyakorlat (activity done as an exercise or practice) · pt berbequim (tool) · gv drilley (activity done as an exercise or practice) · ru бура́в (tool) · la terebra (tool) · bg свре́дел (tool) · el δράπανο (tool) · da bor (tool) · vi máy khoan (tool) · es repetición (activity done as an exercise or practice) · fr chignole (driving part of a drill) · pl musztra (activity done as an exercise or practice) · de Drill (activity done as an exercise or practice) · mi niho (driving part of a drill) · ru бормаши́на (tool) · ru бур (driving part of a drill) · de Drill (driving part of a drill) · ms latih tubi (activity done as an exercise or practice) · mk ве́жба (activity done as an exercise or practice) · kk үскі (tool) · grc μελέτη (activity done as an exercise or practice) · bn তুরপুন (tool) · tr matkap (tool) · mk бу́ргија (driving part of a drill) · ca trepant (tool) · gld лунгу (tool) · uk тренува́ння (activity done as an exercise or practice) · mt golja (tool) · ur ڈرل (tool) · hy գայլիկոնիչ (tool) · de Bohrmaschine (tool) · it punta (driving part of a drill) · cmn 演練 /演练 (activity done as an exercise or practice) · ba бырау (tool) · tg парма (tool) · grc τόρος (tool) · is bor (tool) · nl boor (driving part of a drill) · ro bormașină (tool) · ms latihan (activity done as an exercise or practice) · ota بورغو (tool) · no drill (activity done as an exercise or practice) · ru уче́ние (activity done as an exercise or practice) · mn өрөм (tool) · pag barena (tool) · es taladro (tool) · nl boor (tool) · ast tarabiella (tool) · pt treino (activity done as an exercise or practice) · ar تَدْرِيْبات (activity done as an exercise or practice) · pl wiertło (driving part of a drill) · pt saquaritá (mollusc) · cy dril (driving part of a drill) · mk борма́шина (tool) · hu kiképzés (activity done as an exercise or practice) · nl boormachine (tool) · fr foreuse (tool) · pdt Boa (tool) · fi istukka (driving part of a drill) · ro mașină de găurit (tool) · mn ᠥᠷᠦᠮᠡ (tool) · nl dril (activity done as an exercise or practice) · el γυμνάσιο (activity done as an exercise or practice) · ar بريمة (tool)
From Middle Dutch drillen (“bore, move in a circle”).
Meanings
(transitive) To create (a hole) by removing material with a drill (tool).
Drill a small hole to start the screw in the right direction.
(intransitive) To practice, especially in (or as in) a military context.
They drilled daily to learn the routine exactly.
On his return the team that faced Hull City had been reconfigured. Moses wasn’t overly drilled, just told he would be playing right wing-back, that Conte had seen enough to know. 2017 May 13, Barney Ronay, “Antonio Conte’s brilliance has turned Chelsea’s pop-up team into champions”, in the Guardian:
(ergative) To cause to drill (practice); to train, especially in military arts.
He [Frederic the Great] drilled his people, as he drilled his grenadiers. 1859, Thomas Macaulay, Life of Frederick the Great:
The sergeant was up by 6:00 every morning, drilling his troops.
Now I want you to take Vallett in hand and drill him stiff with everything that has to do with Tilehurst and Tapsfield. 1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
(transitive) To repeat an idea frequently in order to encourage someone to remember it.
The instructor drilled into us the importance of reading the instructions.
(figuratively, intransitive) To investigate or examine something in more detail or at a different level
Drill deeper and you may find the underlying assumptions faulty.
(transitive) To throw, run, hit or kick with a lot of power.
He drilled the ball to his teammate.
He drilled down the court and made a three-pointer.
Without compromising he drilled the ball home, leaving Dynamos' ill-fated keeper diving for fresh air. 2007, Craig Cowell, Muddy Sunday:
Bolton were then just inches from taking the lead, but the dangerous-looking Taylor drilled just wide after picking up a loose ball following Jose Bosingwa's poor attempted clearance. 2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC:
He did get their attention when he drilled the ball dead center into the hole for an opening birdie. 2006, Joe Coon, The Perfect Game:
To hit someone with a pitch, especially in an intentional context.
(slang, vulgar) To have sexual intercourse with; to penetrate.
Everytime^([sic]) when I rape your daughter. Your beautiful faces expressing how it hurts. Always while I drill her c*nt. I want to see you dead. 2010, MasseMord, “Masshealing Masskilling”:
Guess I'll be drilling her butt 2012, SwizZz, “Flu Shot”:
(slang) To shoot; to kill by shooting.
‘Matthew Garth woulda let Tom Dunstan drill him insteada drawin’ against him.’ 1982, Paul Radley, My Blue-Checker Corker and Me, Sydney: Fontana/Collins, page 16:
fo bora (to make a hole) · pt averiguar (to investigate closer) · tr burgulamak (to make a hole) · hu belesulykol (to repeat in order to make remember) · no dypdykke (to investigate closer) · it scavare (to investigate closer) · cy drilio (to make a hole) · it forare (to make a hole) · lo ເຈາະ (to make a hole) · bg пробивам (to make a hole) · no drille (to practice) · ru бури́ть (to make a hole) · es entrenar (to practice) · lv urbt (to make a hole) · nl blokken (to repeat in order to make remember) · mk ве́жба (to practice) · fi tähdentää (to repeat in order to make remember) · sv drilla (to practice) · ltg svuorpstuot (to make a hole) · km ស្វាន (to make a hole) · chr ᎠᏔᎴᏍᎦ (to make a hole) · fi harjoitella (to practice) · it trapanare (to make a hole) · sv drilla (to cause to drill, or practise) · pt inculcar (to repeat in order to make remember) · de schleifen (to practice) · pl borować (to make a hole) · ca perforar (to make a hole) · es hacer / realizar un simulacro (to practice) · fi harjoittaa (to cause to drill, or practise) · is bora (to make a hole) · it perforare (to make a hole) · sv drilla (to repeat in order to make remember) · ru тренирова́ться (to practice) · fr approfondir (to investigate closer) · no bore (to make a hole) · it esercitare (to cause to drill, or practise) · ru копну́ть (to investigate closer) · bg обучавам се (to practice) · tr delmek (to make a hole) · mk о́бучи (to cause to drill, or practise) · fi porata (vulgar: to have sexual intercourse with) · gl tradear (to make a hole) · ltg vūrbt (to make a hole) · de drillen (to repeat in order to make remember) · it addestrare (to cause to drill, or practise) · fi porata (to make a hole) · sl vrtati (to investigate closer) · id berlatih (to practice) · sv nöta (to repeat in order to make remember) · da bore (to make a hole) · fr forer (to make a hole) · mi ore (to make a hole) · fr rabâcher (to repeat in order to make remember) · mi wiri (to make a hole) · vi khoan (to make a hole) · ru копа́ть (to investigate closer) · th หัด (to practice) · la terebrō (to make a hole) · hu fúr (to make a hole) · th เจาะ (to make a hole) · fi porautua (to investigate closer) · ovd buorå (to make a hole) · ca foradar (to make a hole) · ar ثَقَبَ (to make a hole) · ru вдолби́ть (to repeat in order to make remember) · fr percer (to make a hole) · izh purata (to make a hole) · de bohren (to make a hole) · it trivellare (to make a hole) · ru обуча́ться (to practice) · et drillima (to make a hole) · el τρυπώ (to make a hole) · cs vrtat (to make a hole) · fi kairata (to make a hole) · io borar (to make a hole) · nl pompen (vulgar: to have sexual intercourse with) · es agujerear (to make a hole) · ota بورغولامق (to make a hole) · it inculcare (to repeat in order to make remember) · hu gyakorlatozik (to practice) · hu sulykol (to repeat in order to make remember) · fi äkseerätä (to cause to drill, or practise) · sw -toboa (to make a hole) · pt brocar (to make a hole) · es repetir (to repeat in order to make remember) · fi pamauttaa (to hit or kick with a lot of power) · bg обучавам (to cause to drill, or practise) · km ខួង (to make a hole) · es entrenar (to cause to drill, or practise) · lo ຫັດ (to practice) · nl drillen (to practice) · pt exercitar (to practice) · es practicar (to practice) · ru муштрова́ть (to practice) · es averiguar (to investigate closer) · no terpe (to repeat in order to make remember) · bg тренирам (to practice) · fi teroittaa (to repeat in order to make remember) · pt treinar (to practice) · sv träna (to practice) · he קדח (to make a hole) · fr s'entraîner (to practice) · nl drillen (to repeat in order to make remember) · es ensayar (to practice) · ru обуча́ть (to practice) · cmn 鑽孔 /钻孔 (to make a hole) · fr niquer (vulgar: to have sexual intercourse with) · pt perfurar (to make a hole) · pl ćwiczyć (to practice) · pl wiercić (to make a hole) · uk свердли́ти (to make a hole) · kea fura (to make a hole) · id melatih (to cause to drill, or practise) · es horadar (to make a hole) · nl graven (to investigate closer) · la trānsfīgō (to make a hole) · it addestrarsi (to cause to drill, or practise) · ru обуча́ть (to cause to drill, or practise) · fr baiser (vulgar: to have sexual intercourse with) · es drilear (to practice) · es drilear (to make a hole) · el εκπαιδεύω (to practice) · id mengebor (to make a hole) · es perforar (to make a hole) · sl izvrtati (to make a hole) · es taladrar (to make a hole) · pl świdrować (to make a hole) · fi jyystää (vulgar: to have sexual intercourse with) · ru тренирова́ть (to practice) · mk ду́пчи (to make a hole) · bg сондирам (to make a hole) · it esercitarsi (to practice) · fr entraîner (to cause to drill, or practise) · pl musztrować (to practice) · ar نَقَبَ (to make a hole) · sv undersöka (to investigate closer) · fi harjoituttaa (to cause to drill, or practise) · ro a găuri (to make a hole) · he תרגל (to practice) · ru сверли́ть (to make a hole) · ltg būreit (to make a hole) · io exercar (to practice) · sv borra (to make a hole) · sl vrtati (to make a hole) · it esercitarsi (to cause to drill, or practise) · nl stampen (to repeat in order to make remember) · pt furar (to make a hole) · nl boren (to make a hole) · it crivellare (to make a hole) · ru вда́лбливать (to repeat in order to make remember)
Perhaps the same as Etymology 3; compare German Rille which can also mean "small furrow".
Meanings
An agricultural implement for making holes for sowing seed, and sometimes so formed as to contain seeds and drop them into the hole made.
I found down at the side of the house the remains of what must have once been a kitchen garden. Everything was choked with weeds and scutch grass, but the outlines of bed and drill were still there. 1993, John Banville, Ghosts:
A light furrow or channel made to put seed into, when sowing.
hu barázda (light furrow or channel to put seed into) · cy dril (agricultural implement) · pt seminadeira (agricultural implement) · es sembradora (agricultural implement) · fi vako (light furrow or channel to put seed into) · fr semoir (agricultural implement) · cy dril (light furrow or channel to put seed into) · hu sorvetőgép (agricultural implement) · hu vetőbarázda (light furrow or channel to put seed into) · cmn 耬 /耧 (agricultural implement) · it solco (light furrow or channel to put seed into) · fr sillon (light furrow or channel to put seed into) · fr sillon (agricultural implement) · it seminatrice (agricultural implement) · es surco (light furrow or channel to put seed into) · cmn 耬車 /耧车 (agricultural implement) · uk сівалка (agricultural implement) · fi vako (row of seeds sown in a furrow)
Uncertain. Compare the same sense of trill, and German trillen, drillen. Attestation predates Etymology 1.
Meanings
(transitive) To cause to flow in drills or rills or by trickling; to drain by trickling.
Now it is a great square profunditie ; greene , and uneven at the bottome : into which a barren spring doch drill from betweene the stones of the North - ward wall 1615, George Sandys, “(please specify the page)”, in The Relation of a Iourney Begun An: Dom: 1610. […], London: […] [Richard Field] for W. Barrett, →OCLC:
Quit purposely drilling out the time hoping that someone else will do your chores.
(dialectal, obsolete, transitive) To entice or allure; to decoy; with on.
He tells me with great passion that she has bubbled him out of his youth; that she drilled him on to five and fifty [years old], and that he verily believes she will drop him in his old age, if she can find her account in another. 1711 June 12, Joseph Addison, The Spectator, number 89; republished in The Works of Joseph Addison, volume 1, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1842, page 142:
(dialectal, obsolete, transitive) To cause to slip or waste away by degrees.
August 28, 1731, letter by Jonathan Swift to John Gay and Catherine Douglas, Duchess of Queensberry
This cursed accident hath drilled away the whole summer.
]
Source unknown. Probably of African origin; compare mandrill.
Meanings
An Old World monkey of West Africa, Mandrillus leucophaeus, similar in appearance to the mandrill, but lacking the colorful face.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
drills
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Translations (8)
el δρίλλος (Old World monkey) · es dril (Old World monkey) · da dril (Old World monkey) · fr drill (Old World monkey) · ru дрил (Old World monkey) · fi drilli (Old World monkey) · bg мандрил (Old World monkey) · ja ドリル (Old World monkey)