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   drill

   /drɪl/

   noun

   • 1. a tool or machine with a rotating cutting tip or reciprocating hammer or chisel, used for making holes. Similar drilling toolboring toolrotary toolauger(brace and) bitgimletawlbradawl
   • ▪ a tool with a rotating tip used by a dentist for cutting away part of a tooth before filling it.
   • 2. instruction or training in military exercises: "parade-ground drill" Similar traininginstructioncoachingteachinggrounding(physical) exercisesworkoutdisciplineinformal:square-bashing
   • ▪ intensive instruction or training in something, typically by means of repeated exercises: "tables can be mastered by drill and practice"
   • ▪ a rehearsal of the procedure to be followed in an emergency: "air-raid drills"
   • ▪ the correct or recognized procedure or way of doing something: informal "he didn't know the drill" Similar procedureroutinepracticepatternregimenprogrammeschedulemethodsystemcustomorder
   • 3. a predatory mollusc that bores into the shells of other molluscs in order to feed on the soft tissue.

   verb

   • 1. produce (a hole) in something by or as if by boring with a drill: "drill holes through the tiles for the masonry pins"
   • ▪ make a hole in (something) by boring with a drill: "a power tool for drilling wood"
   • ▪ make a hole in or through something by using a drill: "do not attempt to drill through a joist" Similar bore a hole inmake a hole incut a hole indrill a hole inborepiercepuncturepenetrateperforatesinkOpposite punchgouge
   • ▪ sink a borehole in order to obtain oil or water: "BP has been licensed to drill for oil in the area" Similar bore a hole inmake a hole incut a hole indrill a hole inborepiercepuncturepenetrateperforatesinkOpposite punchgouge
   • ▪ (of a dentist) cut away part of (a tooth) before filling it: "I didn't like having my teeth drilled, but extractions were worse"
   • ▪ (of a sports player) hit (a shot) hard and in a straight line: informal "he drilled a right-foot volley into the back of the net"
   • 2. subject (someone) to military training exercises: "a sergeant was drilling new recruits" Similar traininstructcoachteachgroundinculcatedisciplineexercisemake fitrehearseput someone through their paces
   • ▪ (of a person) take part in military training exercises: "the troops were drilling"
   • ▪ instruct (someone) in something by the means of repeated exercises or practice: "I reacted instinctively because I had been drilled to do just that"

   Word Origin early 17th century: from Middle Dutch drillen ‘bore, turn in a circle’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. driller noun

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • D

     2

   • R

     1

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

   • L

     1

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