Drip

/dɹɪp/

verbBeginnerCommonGeneral

Definitions

3 meanings
1

To fall or let fall in drops; to exude or leak liquid.

/dɹɪp/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To fall in drops.

Rainwater dripped from the eaves of the house.

💡 Simply: When something 'drips', it means small drops of liquid are falling slowly. Like when you leave a wet towel hanging and the water drips on the floor, or when it rains and water drips off the roof.

👶 For kids: When a liquid falls one drop at a time.

More Examples

2

The doctor started an IV drip to give the patient fluids.

How It's Used

General

"Water drips from the faucet."

Medical

"The patient received a saline drip."

2

A small quantity of liquid falling or that has fallen in drops; the act of dripping.

/dɹɪp/

nounneutralBeginner
General

A drop or the act of falling in drops.

The constant drip of the faucet kept me awake.

💡 Simply: A 'drip' is a single drop of liquid, or the sound of the water that comes out. You hear the drip drip drip of the faucet when it has a leak.

👶 For kids: A single drop of liquid.

More Examples

2

She felt a cold drip on her arm.

How It's Used

General

"I could hear the constant drip from the leaky pipe."

Medical

"The doctor administered an IV drip."

Tip:Think of the sound a single drop makes.
3

Stylishness or a person's look.

/dɹɪp/

nounpositivemedium
General

A style or a person's look

That new outfit gives you the drip.

💡 Simply: When someone has a 'drip', they have a stylish look, especially regarding their clothing.

👶 For kids: When you look fashionable or cool.

More Examples

2

I can't keep up with all this drip.

How It's Used

Slang/Fashion

"That new outfit gives you the drip."

Tip:Remember the water dripping in the context of style, and how stylish something is, like water trickling down the person's clothes.

Idioms & expressions

drip-feed

To provide something gradually or in small increments.

"The company drip-fed information about the new product launch."

drip dry

Of fabric, to dry after washing by hanging up and allowing the water to drip off without wringing or ironing.

"These shirts are made of a fabric that drip dries, so you don't need to iron them."

From Middle English drippen, from Old English dryppan, related to Old Norse drjúpa. The sense of a small amount falling or leaking is core.

The word's usage can be traced back to Old English, often referencing the slow leakage of fluids.

Memory tip

Imagine water slowly falling one drop at a time.

dripeddrippdrips

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written