drill1 noundrill2 verb
drilldrill1 /drɪl/ ●●○ noun 
1
[countable] a tool or machine used for making holes in something: 
an electric drill a whine like a dentist’s drill → pneumatic drill2[countable] a method of teaching students, sports players etc something by making them repeat the same lesson, exercise etc many times: a pronunciation drill3fire/emergency drill an occasion when people practise what they should do in a dangerous situation such as a fire4[uncountable] military training in which soldiers practise marching, using weapons etc: rifle drill5the drill British English old-fashioned the usual way that something is done: ‘You know the drill?’ ‘Not really. Tell me again what to do.’6[uncountable] a type of strong cotton cloth7[countable] a)a machine for planting seeds in rows b)a row of seeds planted by a machinedrill1 noundrill2 verb
drilldrill2 ●●○ verb WORD ORIGINdrill2
Origin:
1500-1600 Dutch drillenVERB TABLE
drill
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | drill |
| he, she, it | drills | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | drilled |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have drilled |
| he, she, it | has drilled | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had drilled |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will drill |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have drilled |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am drilling |
| he, she, it | is drilling | |
| you, we, they | are drilling | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was drilling |
| you, we, they | were drilling | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been drilling |
| he, she, it | has been drilling | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been drilling |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be drilling |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been drilling |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I heard the dentist start drilling, but I couldn't feel anything.
- It sounds like someone's drilling into the wall.
- Oil companies still drill for oil off Santa Barbara.
- We'll have to drill some holes here to put up the shelves.
- A third well has also been drilled and is currently being completed, and Pogo has plans to drill a fourth well.
- If we drill a borehole into the aquifer the groundwater will be under sufficient pressure to overflow from the borehole.
- In the process, some 2, 000 miles of tunnels were drilled through the mountains.
- Tannins, another kind of organic molecule, are used in the oil industry to make muds easier to drill.
- They hammered and plowed and drilled.
Longman Language Activatorto make a hole in the ground or surface of something
to make a space by removing the inside part of something: hollow out something/hollow something out: · Carefully hollow out the pineapple and then fill it with the ice-cream.
British to make a hole in the ground using a tool that is made for digging: · To plant the tree you need to dig out a hole about 20 cm wide and 30 cm deep.· The workmen were already digging out the foundations for the building.
to make a deep cut in a surface, using something sharp, especially in order to remove something: · The blade gouged a deep wound in her leg.gouge out something/gouge something out (=remove something by violently cutting a hole): · In the play he tries to gouge out his own eyes.
to make a very small hole in something, especially accidentally, using something pointed such as a pin: · A small bead of blood formed where she had pricked her finger.· Prick the potatoes before baking them.
to make a narrow hole in something using a tool that turns round and round very quickly: · I heard the dentist start drilling, but I couldn't feel anything.drill for oil/water/gas etc: · Oil companies still drill for oil off Santa Barbara.drill into: · It sounds like someone's drilling into the wall.
to make a hole in a hard surface such as rock or the ground using a lot of pressure, especially in order to find or remove minerals, coal etc: · The mining company bored a 5000 foot hole.· The machine they used to bore the tunnel is the size of a two storey house.bore into/through: · They had to bore through solid rock.
to accidentally hit the surface of something, especially something metal, so that part of the surface is bent or slightly lower than the rest: · He accidentally dented the garage door, trying to reverse in.
to make a hole through something · Make a hole in the bottom of the plant pot to allow the water to drain out.· Make a hole in the surface of the pie before you put it in the oven.
to make a small hole through something using something long and sharp: · She pierced the lid of the can and poured the milk into a saucepan.· The arrow pierced his heart.have your ears/nose/navel etc pierced (=have holes made in them so that you can wear jewellery): · Shelley had her ears pierced when she was a teenager.
to damage something by making a hole through which air escapes: · The doctor was worried that the broken rib might puncture the woman's lung.
to make a hole through paper or material with a quick strong movement using a special tool: · The conductor walked through the train, punching everyone's ticket.punch a hole in something: · I punched holes in the papers and filed them away in a binder.· The shoemaker was threading stitches through tiny holes he had punched in the leather.
to make a small hole in something using a tool that turns around and around very quickly: drill a hole in: · I drilled two holes in the shelf and attached it to the wall.· We drilled several small holes in the lid of the jar.
WORD SETSadjutant, nounarmoured, adjectivebarracks, nounbasic training, nounbatman, nounbattalion, nounbearskin, nounbillet, nounbillet, verbbombardier, nounbooty, nounbrigade, nounbrigadier, nounbrigadier-general, nouncadet, nouncanteen, nouncantonment, nouncapture, verbcavalry, nouncavalryman, nouncenturion, nouncharger, nounchevron, nounCol., colonel, nouncommand, nouncommando, nouncommissary, nouncompany, nouncontingent, nouncorps, noundesert, verbdeserter, noundesertion, noundetachment, noundetail, noundisengage, verbdishonourable discharge, noundivision, noundivisional, adjectivedog tag, noundraft, verbdragoon, noundrill, noundrill, verbdugout, nounencampment, nounexpeditionary force, nounfield marshal, nounfiring squad, nounfive star general, nounflank, nounfoot locker, nounforay, nounfour-star general, nounfusilier, noungarrison, noungarrison, verbGen., general, noungeneralship, nounGI, noungrenadier, nounground forces, noungrunt, nounguardsman, noungunner, nounhussar, nouninduct, verbinductee, nouninfantry, nouninfantryman, nounirregular, nounlance corporal, nounlegion, nounlegionary, nounlegionnaire, nounLieut, loot, nounLt., man-at-arms, nounmatériel, nounMC, nounmedic, nounmercenary, nounmess hall, nounMIA, nounM.O., nounmobilize, verbmotorized, adjectivemounted, adjectivemusketeer, nounmuster, nounnon-commissioned officer, nounobstacle course, nounparade, verbparade ground, nounparatrooper, nounparatroops, nounpennon, nounpicket, nounpicket, verbpip, nounplatoon, nounpoint man, nounposition, nounprivate, nounprivate soldier, nounPte, redcoat, nounregiment, nounregular, nounreservist, nounreveille, nounroute march, nounsapper, nounsarge, nounsignalman, nounsoldier, nounsoldiering, nounsoldierly, adjectivesoldier of fortune, nounsoldiery, nounsortie, nounsortie, verbspecial forces, nounsquad, nounsquaddy, nounstaff sergeant, nounstandard-bearer, nounstormtrooper, nounsubaltern, nounTerritorial Army, the, trench, nountroop, nountrooper, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY BP has been licensed to drill for oil in the area. The crew were well drilled in handling emergency situations.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[intransitive, transitive] to make a hole in something using a drill: BP has been licensed to drill for oil in the area. The crew were well drilled in handling emergency situations.· Plans to drill for oil off the New South Wales coast have recently been revived.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· If we drill a borehole into the aquifer the groundwater will be under sufficient pressure to overflow from the borehole.
· Plans for the three-year exploration phase include drilling three wells and seismic studies at a cost of $ 13 million.· A third well has also been drilled and is currently being completed, and Pogo has plans to drill a fourth well.
Drill a hole in each corner.drill into/through He accidentally drilled into a water pipe.drill for oil/water/gas etc BP has been licensed to drill for oil in the area.2[transitive] to teach students, sports players etc by making them repeat the same lesson, exercise etc many timesdrill somebody in something She was drilling the class in the forms of the past tense.drill somebody to do something I acted instinctively because I had been trained and drilled to do just that. The crew were well drilled in handling emergency situations.3[transitive] to train soldiers to march or perform other military actions: The sergeant was drilling the new recruits.4[transitive] to plant seeds in rows using a machinedrill down phrasal verb technical to get a more detailed level of information relating to something, when using a computerdrill something into somebody phrasal verb to keep telling someone something until they know it very well: Mother had drilled it into me not to talk to strangers.- self-indulgence
- self-indulgent
- self-indulgently
- self-inflicted
- self-interest
- self-interested
- selfish
- selfishly
- selfishness
- self-knowledge
- selfless
- selflessly
- selflessness
- self-made
- self-opinionated
- self-pity
- self-pitying
- self-portrait
- self-possessed
- self-possession
- self-preservation
- self-proclaimed
- self-raising flour
- self-regulation
- self-regulatory