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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

drizzle en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • [ˈdɹɪzl̩]
  • /ˈdɹɪzəl/

Etymology

Perhaps a back-formation from dryseling, a dissimilated variant of Middle English drysning (“a falling of dew”), from Northumbrian Old English drysnan (“to extinguish”), related to Old English drēosan (“to fall, to decline”), making it cognate to modern English droze and drowse. Compare also dialectal Swedish drösla.

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) Light rain.
    • Up here, it's a 'dreich' day with steady drizzle. Deep drainage channels either side of the track are already more like streams: Rannoch Moor is a wet place. 2023 November 29, Paul Clifton, “West is best in the Highlands”, in RAIL, number 997, page 39:
  2. (countable, uncountable) Very small, numerous, and uniformly dispersed water drops, mist, or sprinkle. Unlike fog droplets, drizzle falls to the ground.
    • No longer pouring, the rain outside slowed down to a faint drizzle.
  3. (countable, slang, uncountable) Water.
    • Stop drinking all of my drizzle!
  4. (countable, uncountable) Something that is drizzled.
    • Drizzle is not normally good news. Not when it's falling from the sky, not when it's replacing a decent helping of sauce, and especially not when it's found on a menu in close proximity to the words "balsamic vinegar". Deliciously sticky, sweet and sour lemon drizzle cake is the one, and very honourable, exception. […] Rhodes and Holt wisely avoid any icing, relying on the power of the drizzle: and I'm inclined to agree – with the crunchy, granulated sugar syrups used by Holt and George, anything further would seem to be over-egging the cake. 2013 January 23, Felicity Cloake, “How to cook the perfect lemon drizzle cake”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Sep 2013:
    • Thick shavings of Parmesan were plentiful, but the drizzle of “white truffle oil” promised on the menu had been forgotten. 2009 May 29, Patricia Brooks, “A Retro Rebirth at a Storied Location”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 18 Sep 2019:
    • The warm apple tart, made to order, had a definitively crisp shell. Its filling of apples was tender and sweet, and the drizzle of caramel rum sauce added sophistication. 1999 November 21, Catherine Jones, “Restaurants: Palate and Palette”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 May 2015:
  5. (countable, uncountable) A cake onto which icing, honey or syrup has been drizzled in an artistic manner.
    • The rest of the day is spent trying to concentrate on ingredient labels, ordering supplies, baking some fairy cakes for a hen party and two lemon drizzles, one for a new baby and one for an old dear's birthday. 2009, Jules Stanbridge, Sugar and Spice:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
drizzles Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

drizzle-drozzle · misle · drizzlingly · bedrizzle · drizzler · drizzleable · squizzle · drizzly

Translations (161)

nn yr ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · izh siije (light rain) · de Sprühregen (light rain) · el ψιχάλισμα (light rain) · ar غَبْيَة (light rain) · ru и́зморось ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · es silampa (light rain) · nn småregn (light rain) · hu szitálás (light rain) · ka ჟუჟუნი (light rain) · bg ситен дъжд (light rain) · nrf bllâse (light rain) · ka ჟინჟღლი (light rain) · gl murgazo (light rain) · ast prúa (light rain) · nl gemiezer (light rain) · fr flotte ((slang) water) · nl drup (light rain) · es chilchi (light rain) · da støvregn (light rain) · hnn alinyabo (light rain) · es llovizna (light rain) · uk мря́ка (light rain) · fa نَمنَم (light rain) · gl melura (light rain) · pdt Plaudaräajen (light rain) · kk сіркіреме (light rain) · gl poalla (light rain) · sv duggregn (light rain) · gl mera (light rain) · ru ме́лкий дождь (light rain) · es chilche (light rain) · hi झींसी (light rain) · ru до́ждик (light rain) · grc ψεκάς (light rain) · nl drop (light rain) · hi फुहार (light rain) · fi tihku ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · ar بَغْشَة (light rain) · af motreën (light rain) · ha yayyafī (light rain) · nn duskregn (light rain) · ga brádán (light rain) · gl merada (light rain) · es cilampa (light rain) · mk дождец (light rain) · da finregn (light rain) · gl pulpizo (light rain) · ast orbayu (light rain) · gl sarría (light rain) · fi vihma (light rain) · ja 霧雨 (light rain) · cmn 毛毛雨 (light rain) · fr crachin (light rain) · pl mżawka (light rain) · de Nieselregen ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · gl babuxa (light rain) · es sirimiri (light rain) · ru мо́рось (light rain) · fr bruine (light rain) · pt caruja (light rain) · pjt iili (light rain) · nl motregen (light rain) · gl cerceno (light rain) · ka ჟინჟლი (light rain) · ta தூறல் (light rain) · de Nieselregen (light rain) · cy glaw mân (light rain) · tr çise (light rain) · pt garoa (light rain) · el ψιλόβροχο (light rain) · es aguacha (light rain) · gl breca (light rain) · gl lendiaxe (light rain) · tr ahmakıslatan (light rain) · gl mouza (light rain) · ta நீர் ((slang) water) · nl dropregen (light rain) · tl ambon ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · es jarina (light rain) · cmn 細雨 /细雨 (light rain) · ka ჟინჟღალი (light rain) · nl miezer (light rain) · la pluvia tenuis (light rain) · ny mvumbi (light rain) · mi tarariki (light rain) · mi ua tātāriki (light rain) · tr çisenti (light rain) · nb yr ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · ko 이슬비 (light rain) · oc plovina (light rain) · ka თქორი (light rain) · hu szemerkélés (light rain) · mi tararere (light rain) · sv duggregn ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · lb Fisemreen (light rain) · eu langar (light rain) · nrf crachîn (light rain) · cs mžení (light rain) · ka ცრა (light rain) · nl stofregen ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · nb duskregn (light rain) · ka ნამვა (light rain) · ja 時雨 (light rain) · sh rosulja ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · eo pluveto (light rain) · gl bichuchío (light rain) · gl lapiñada (light rain) · ta தூறல் ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · fr grainasse (light rain) · gl froallo (light rain) · ca plovisqueig (light rain) · ro burniță (light rain) · nb småregn (light rain) · ru и́зморось (light rain) · lb Gefisems (light rain) · ar رَذَاذ (light rain) · mi kōwhaowhao (light rain) · el ψιχάλες (light rain) · sw manyunyu (light rain) · is úði (light rain) · gl caruxada (light rain) · cs mrholení (light rain) · tr çiseleme (light rain) · ceb talisik (light rain) · cmn 小雨 (light rain) · mk роса ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · es orvallo (light rain) · ilo arbis (light rain) · it pioggerella (light rain) · fi sadesumu ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · tl tubig ((slang) water) · da stænk ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · mi hāuaua (light rain) · mr कणवर्षा (light rain) · tl ambon (light rain) · fi tihkusade (light rain) · ru морося́щий дождь (light rain) · id gerimis (light rain) · ca plovisqueig ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · nn yr (light rain) · ga ceobhrán (light rain) · de Sprühregen ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · ja 小雨 (light rain) · gl marmalla (light rain) · sh кишица (light rain) · nb yr (light rain) · nl drupregen (light rain) · ka ჟღმურტლი (light rain) · uk мжи́чка (light rain) · eu sirimiri (light rain) · sh росуља ((physics, weather) numerous small and uniformly dispersed water drops) · gl barruza (light rain) · gl orballo (light rain) · pt chuvisco (light rain) · es garúa (light rain) · ca roina (light rain) · he טיפטוף (light rain) · sw rasharasha (light rain) · it pioviggine (light rain) · sh kišica (light rain)

drizzle en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • [ˈdɹɪzl̩]
  • /ˈdɹɪzəl/

Etymology

Perhaps a back-formation from dryseling, a dissimilated variant of Middle English drysning (“a falling of dew”), from Northumbrian Old English drysnan (“to extinguish”), related to Old English drēosan (“to fall, to decline”), making it cognate to modern English droze and drowse. Compare also dialectal Swedish drösla.

Meanings

  1. (impersonal) To rain lightly.
    • We had planned a picnic for Joe's birthday, but it ended up drizzling all day.
  2. (ambitransitive) To shed slowly in minute drops or particles.
    • And from mine eyes the drizling teares descend, As on your boughes the ysicles depend. 1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “Ianuarye. Ægloga Prima.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Hugh Singleton, […], →OCLC:
    • When the sun sets, the air doth drizzle dew; But for the sunset of my brother’s son It rains downright. c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v]:
  3. (transitive) To pour slowly and evenly, especially oil or honey in cooking.
    • The recipe says to toss the salad and then drizzle olive oil on it.
  4. (transitive) To cover by pouring in this manner.
    • Drizzle with oil and a few squeezes from a lemon wedge or two and serve at once, with remaining lemon wedges on the side. 2022, Melissa Clark, Dinner in One, →ISBN, page 49:
    • The recipe says to toss the salad and then drizzle it in olive oil.
  5. (slang) To urinate.
    • She'll be right back, had to drizzle before we leave.
  6. (dated) To carry out parfilage, the process of unravelling.
    • She found that all those ladies who did not play at cards occupied their fingers with parfilage.[...] Here, the work was called drizzling. Ladies begged their friends to give them pieces of the gold lace used on uniforms and the gold tassels of sword-belts, they picked out the metal threads, and by selling these they realised considerable sums. Prince Leopold himself drizzled continually[...] 1908 January 14 – June 14, James Knowles, “Extracts from the Journal of Lady Mary Coke”, in The Nineteenth Century And After, volume 63, New York, N.Y.; London: Leonard Scott Publication Co.; Spottiswoode & Co. Ltd., Printers, →OCLC, page 433:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
drizzling Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
drizzled Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
drizzled Tense=Past lexicographic
drizzles Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Synonyms

dribble · drip · sprinkle · mizzle · mistle

Translations (122)

de träufeln (to pour slowly and evenly) · id gerimis (to rain lightly) · ast pruar (to rain lightly) · grc ψεκάζω (to rain lightly) · zza werdı varen (to rain lightly) · el ψιχαλίζει (to rain lightly) · gl orballar (to rain lightly) · da stænke (to pour slowly and evenly) · pam lintik (to rain lightly) · bcl tagiti (to rain lightly) · ta தூவு (to pour slowly and evenly) · es rociar (to pour slowly and evenly) · ka ჟინჟლავს (to rain lightly) · ca plovisquejar (to rain lightly) · sh сипити (to rain lightly) · gl ameroar (to rain lightly) · ru мороси́ть (to rain lightly) · gl mouzar (to rain lightly) · ka თქორავს (to rain lightly) · pl skropić (to pour slowly and evenly) · ro bura (to rain lightly) · es lloviznar (to rain lightly) · sv dugga (to rain lightly) · es pintear (to rain lightly) · cy gwlithlawio (to rain lightly) · da støvregne (to rain lightly) · ro țârâi (to rain lightly) · bg ръмя (to rain lightly) · es pringar (to pour slowly and evenly) · hi फुहार (to rain lightly) · bg пикая (to urinate) · hu szemerkél (to rain lightly) · es mear (to urinate) · gl poallar (to rain lightly) · pl sikać (to urinate) · pl kropić (to rain lightly) · sv duggregna (to rain lightly) · gl babuxar (to rain lightly) · cmn 毛毛雨 (to rain lightly) · gl mormañar (to rain lightly) · es salpicar (to pour slowly and evenly) · sk popŕchať (to rain lightly) · ca espurnejar (to rain lightly) · az narın yağmaq (to rain lightly) · gl pruiar (to rain lightly) · wa moziner (to rain lightly) · gl pinicar (to rain lightly) · gl trobiscar (to rain lightly) · ka ჟუჟუნებს (to rain lightly) · wa brouhiner (to rain lightly) · ar تبول (to urinate) · nl druppelen (to pour slowly and evenly) · gl esbagalloar (to rain lightly) · fr bruiner (to rain lightly) · fr mouiller (to pour slowly and evenly) · gl merar (to rain lightly) · fi tihuttaa (to rain lightly) · nl druppen (to rain lightly) · eo verŝi (to pour slowly and evenly) · nci tlapayahui (to rain lightly) · cs mrholit (to rain lightly) · ta சிறுநீர் பாய்ச்சு (to urinate) · ka ნამავს (to rain lightly) · mk роси (to rain lightly) · es pringar (to rain lightly) · gl lapiñar (to rain lightly) · pam ambun (to rain lightly) · gl brecar (to rain lightly) · ta தூறு (to rain lightly) · az çisələmək (to rain lightly) · fi sataa tihkua (to rain lightly) · el ψιλοβρέχει (to rain lightly) · hu szitál (to rain lightly) · fi valella (to pour slowly and evenly) · fr grainasser (to rain lightly) · pt chuviscar (to rain lightly) · sh sipiti (to rain lightly) · be імжыць (to rain lightly) · gl batumar (to rain lightly) · vi phùn (to rain lightly) · nl motregenen (to rain lightly) · de nieseln (to rain lightly) · sk mrholiť (to rain lightly) · az çiskinləmək (to rain lightly) · nl motteren (to rain lightly) · fr pleuvioter (to rain lightly) · eo pluveti (to rain lightly) · gl barruzar (to rain lightly) · fi vihmoa (to rain lightly) · pl mżyć (to rain lightly) · bcl tiniktinik (to rain lightly) · ka ჟინღლავს (to rain lightly) · gl cerceliar (to rain lightly) · ga bheith ag brádán (to rain lightly) · tr çiselemek (to rain lightly) · uk мрячити (to rain lightly) · fi lorottaa (to urinate) · fa نَمنَم باریدن (to rain lightly) · es garuar (to rain lightly) · az çisəmək (to rain lightly) · ast orbayar (to rain lightly) · tl ambon (to rain lightly) · da småregne (to rain lightly) · hu szór (to pour slowly and evenly) · ca roinar (to rain lightly) · fo ælmuska (to rain lightly) · pt garoar (to rain lightly) · da pisse (to urinate) · ta சிறுநீர் கழி (to urinate) · ka ცრის (to rain lightly) · sh rominjati (to rain lightly) · gl froallar (to rain lightly) · it piovigginare (to rain lightly) · es chispear (to rain lightly) · ar رَذَّ (to rain lightly) · sw nyunya (to rain lightly) · gl bornazar (to rain lightly) · sh ромињати (to rain lightly) · fi tihkuttaa (to rain lightly) · nl miezeren (to rain lightly) · ar بَغَشَ (to rain lightly) · pl siąpić (to rain lightly)