drill

drill¹ (dr

a. An implement with cutting edges or a pointed end for boring holes in hard materials, usually by a rotating abrasion or repeated blows; a bit.

b. The hand-operated or hand-powered holder for this implement.

c. A loud, harsh noise made by or as if by a powered tool of this kind.

a. Disciplined, repetitious exercise as a means of teaching and perfecting a skill or procedure.

b. A task or exercise for teaching a skill or procedure by repetition: conducted an air-raid drill; a drill for learning the multiplication tables.

3. The training of soldiers in marching and the manual of arms.

4. Any of various marine gastropod mollusks, chiefly of the genus Urosalpinx, that bore holes into the shells of bivalve mollusks. U. cinera is destructive to oysters.

v. drilled, drill·ing, drills

v.tr.

a. To make a hole in (a hard material) with a drill: a bit for drilling masonry.

b. To make (a hole) with or as if with a drill: drills holes in trees with its chisellike bill.

2. To strike or hit sharply: The batter drilled a single through the infield.

a. To instruct thoroughly by repetition in a skill or procedure: drill pupils in grammar.

b. To infuse knowledge of or skill in by repetitious instruction. See Synonyms at teach.

4. To train (soldiers) in marching and the manual of arms.

v.intr.

1. To make a hole with or as if with a drill.

2. To perform a training exercise.

[Obsolete Dutch dril, from drillen, to bore, from Middle Dutch drillen; see ter-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

driller n.

drill² (dr

1. A shallow trench or furrow in which seeds are planted.

2. A row of planted seeds.

3. A machine or implement for planting seeds in holes or furrows.

tr.v. drilled, drill·ing, drills

1. To sow (seeds) in rows.

2. To plant (a field) in drills.

[Perhaps from drill, rill, from Middle English drille, sip.]

drill³ (dr

Durable cotton or linen twill of varying weights, generally used for work clothes.

[Short for drilling, alteration of German Drillich, from Middle High German drilich, threefold, fabric woven with three threads, from Old High German drilh, alteration (influenced by dr, three,, and -lh, adj. suff.) of Latin trilx, triple-twilled; see trellis.]

drill ¹

Noun

1. a machine or tool for boring holes

2. Mil training in procedures or movements, as for parades

3. strict and often repetitious training

4. Informal correct procedure: he knows the drill as well as anybody

Verb

1. to bore a hole in (something) with or as if with a drill

2. to instruct or be instructed in military procedures or movements

3. to teach by rigorous exercises or training [Middle Dutch drillen]

drill ²

Noun

1. a machine for planting seeds in rows

2. a furrow in which seeds are sown

3. a row of seeds planted by means of a drill

Verb

to plant (seeds) by means of a drill [origin unknown]

drill ³

Noun

a hard-wearing cotton cloth, used for uniforms [German Drillich]

drill ⁴

Noun

a W African monkey, related to the mandrill [from a West African word]

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	drill - a tool with a sharp point and cutting edges for making holes in hard materials (usually rotating rapidly or by repeated blows) screw auger, wimble, auger, gimlet - hand tool for boring holes bit - the cutting part of a drill; usually pointed and threaded and is replaceable in a brace or bitstock or drill press; "he looked around for the right size bit" bore bit, borer, rock drill, stone drill - a drill for penetrating rock brace and bit - a drill consisting of a bit and a brace to hold and turn it breast drill - a portable drill with a plate that is pressed against the chest to force the drill point into the work chuck - a holding device consisting of adjustable jaws that center a workpiece in a lathe or center a tool in a drill core drill - a drill that removes a cylindrical core from the drill hole burr drill, dentist's drill - a high speed drill that dentists use to cut into teeth hand drill, handheld drill - a small portable drill held and operated by hand power drill - a power tool for drilling holes into hard materials reamer - a drill that is used to shape or enlarge holes tool - an implement used in the practice of a vocation trepan - a drill for cutting circular holes around a center
	2.	drill - similar to the mandrill but smaller and less brightly colored Mandrillus leucophaeus baboon - large terrestrial monkeys having doglike muzzles
	3.	drill - systematic training by multiple repetitions; "practice makes perfect" practice session, practice, exercise, recitation grooming, training, preparation - activity leading to skilled behavior fire drill - an exercise intended to train people in duties and escape procedures to be followed in case of fire manual of arms, manual - (military) a prescribed drill in handling a rifle military drill - training in marching and the use of weapons rehearsal - (psychology) a form of practice; repetition of information (silently or aloud) in order to keep it in short-term memory dry run, rehearsal - a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert); "he missed too many rehearsals"; "a rehearsal will be held the day before the wedding" brushup, review - practice intended to polish performance or refresh the memory scrimmage - (American football) practice play between a football team's squads shadowboxing - sparring with an imaginary opponent (for exercise or training) target practice - practice in shooting at targets
	4.	drill - (military) the training of soldiers to march (as in ceremonial parades) or to perform the manual of arms grooming, training, preparation - activity leading to skilled behavior armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"
Verb	1.	drill - 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" bore spud - initiate drilling operations, as for petroleum; "The well was spudded in April" counter-drill - drill in an opposite direction trepan - cut a hole with a trepan, as in surgery cut - separate with or as if with an instrument; "Cut the rope"
	2.	drill - train in the military, e.g., in the use of weapons train, educate, prepare, develop - create by training and teaching; "The old master is training world-class violinists"; "we develop the leaders for the future"
	3.	drill - learn by repetition; "We drilled French verbs every day"; "Pianists practice scales" practice, practise, exercise learn, study, read, take - be a student of a certain subject; "She is reading for the bar exam"
	4.	drill - teach by repetition beat in, drill in, hammer in, ram down - teach by drills and repetition inculcate, infuse, instill - teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions; "inculcate values into the young generation" instruct, teach, learn - impart skills or knowledge to; "I taught them French"; "He instructed me in building a boat"
	5.	drill - undergo military training or do military exercises train, prepare - undergo training or instruction in preparation for a particular role, function, or profession; "She is training to be a teacher"; "He trained as a legal aid"