Drilling

'drɪlɪŋ

verbBeginner📊CommonAction
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To make a hole using a drill.

'drɪlɪŋ

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To bore a hole with a drill.

The workers were drilling into the rock to search for oil.

💡 Simply: Drilling is like using a special tool (a drill) to make holes in things. Think about when you need to put up a shelf and you have to make holes in the wall. You're drilling!

👶 For kids: Making a hole with a special spinning tool called a drill.

More Examples

2

She is drilling holes to hang the paintings.

3

He spent the afternoon drilling into the wooden planks to build a birdhouse.

How It's Used

Construction

"The construction worker was drilling into the concrete."

Dentistry

"The dentist is drilling my tooth to remove a cavity."

2

Repetitive practice of specific skills or exercises to improve proficiency.

'drɪlɪŋ

nounneutralmedium
Action

The act of practicing an exercise or procedure to improve skill or coordination.

The fire department conducts regular fire drills to ensure safety.

💡 Simply: Drilling is when you practice something over and over again, like learning the alphabet or practicing a sport. It helps you get better at it!

👶 For kids: Practicing something again and again to get really good at it.

More Examples

2

The team's success was attributed to their intensive training and drilling.

3

The soldiers were engaged in a drilling exercise at the base.

How It's Used

Military

"The soldiers underwent rigorous drill training every morning."

Education

"The students practiced multiplication facts through repetitive drilling."

Tip:Think of soldiers marching in perfect formation - that's drill!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

drill down

To investigate or analyze something in detail; to look at something more closely or deeply.

"The researchers drilled down into the data to identify the specific cause of the problem."

From Middle English *drillen* (to bore, pierce), likely of Dutch origin, related to *drillen* (to bore, pierce).

The word 'drill' has been used since the 14th century, evolving from the Middle Dutch or Low German words relating to boring or piercing.

Memory tip

Imagine using a drill to make a perfect hole in a piece of wood - that's drilling!

Word Origin

LanguageDutch
Original meaning

"to bore, pierce"

drill bitdrill pressdrill downfire drillmilitary drill

Common misspellings

drilingdrillin'

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written