drill
drill
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "drill" is /drɪl/.
dril - /drɪl/
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: drill
Plural Noun: drills
Present Tense Verb (base form): drill
Present Tense Verb (third-person singular): drills
Present Participle/Gerund: drilling
Past Tense Verb: drilled
Past Participle: drilled
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A tool or machine with a rotating cutting point used for making holes in hard materials.
Synonyms: auger, borer, perforator
Antonyms: (none readily applicable, as it refers to a specific tool)
A structured and repetitive exercise or training method, often for military, emergency, or educational purposes, designed to teach a skill or procedure.
Synonyms: exercise, practice, rehearsal, training, regimen
Antonyms: spontaneity, improvisation, disorganization
A type of strong, coarse cotton fabric with a diagonal weave, similar to denim, often used for uniforms or work clothes.
Synonyms: twill, denim (sometimes used interchangeably in broader sense), canvas (similar in durability)
Antonyms: (none readily applicable, as it refers to a specific fabric type)
Verb
To make a hole in something with a drill or other pointed tool.
Synonyms: bore, pierce, perforate, puncture
Antonyms: fill, patch, mend
To train or instruct someone in a skill or procedure through rigorous and repetitive exercises.
Synonyms: train, coach, instruct, practice, rehearse, discipline
Antonyms: neglect, ignore, relax, allow (to be undisciplined)
(Of a person or group) To perform a series of exercises or movements repeatedly in order to learn or practice them.
Synonyms: practice, rehearse, exercise, train
Antonyms: improvise, ad-lib, deviate
Examples of Use
Books:
"He heard the steady drill of rain against the windowpane, a monotonous rhythm that matched the somber mood of the city." (From a work of fiction, illustrating the sound of rain)
"The initial training involved a rigorous drill in basic combat maneuvers, repeated until they became second nature to the recruits." (From a non-fiction book about military history)
Newspapers:
"Emergency services conducted a large-scale evacuation drill in the city center yesterday, testing their response to a simulated earthquake scenario." ( The Guardian)
"New offshore oil discoveries will require extensive drilling operations, raising concerns among environmental groups about potential impacts." (The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"How to Choose the Right Power Drill for Your Home Improvement Projects" ( Popular Mechanics online)
"Students participate in a fire drill at Willow Creek Elementary School, ensuring they know the proper evacuation procedures." (Local news website)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (documentary): "The geological team used a specialized drill to extract core samples from deep beneath the Antarctic ice sheet, hoping to uncover secrets of ancient climates." (From a science documentary)
Music (song lyrics): "Got to drill it down, get to the core of the problem." (From a popular song, figurative use)
Film (dialogue): "Alright, listen up! This is not a drill! I repeat, not a drill! Move it!" (From an action movie, indicating a real emergency)
Video Games: "Players must upgrade their mining drill to extract rarer resources from underground caverns." (Description from a popular video game, typically found in item descriptions or tutorials)
General Public Discourse:
"We have to drill these grammar rules into the students until they understand them perfectly." (Common expression among educators)
"The constant sound of the construction drill outside my window is driving me crazy." (Everyday conversation about noise pollution)
"They put us through a tough interview drill before offering the position." (Referring to a challenging interview process)
10 Quotes Using Drill
"Life leaps like a geyser for those willing to drill through the rock of inertia." (Alexis Carrel)
"The drill drills on." (C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed)
"My definition, a definition in the drill books from the time that General Von Steuben wrote the regulations for General George Washington, the definition of the object of military training is success in battle." (Chesty Puller)
"Nobody who bought a drill actually wanted a drill. They wanted a hole." (Perry Marshall)
"A hard drill makes an easy battle." (Alexander Suvorov)
"This isn't a drill, sir!" (A common trope in action/military fiction)
"I have little patience with scientists who take a board of wood, look for its thinnest part, and drill a great number of holes where drilling is easy." (Albert Einstein)
"Drill, baby, drill!" (Michael Steele, 2008 Republican National Convention)
"In the high school classroom you are a drill sergeant, a rabbi, a shoulder to cry on..." (Frank McCourt, Teacher Man)
"The textbooks are dumbed down to the where your kid sister could probably read them, and the teacher go over and over and over the same stuff anyway, drilling it into your head..." (Charles Benoit, You)
Etymology
The word "drill" actually has a few different origins, leading to its various meanings today. It's a bit like several different words eventually looking and sounding the same!
One main branch of "drill" comes from the Dutch word "drillen," which meant "to bore a hole" or "to turn around/whirl." This is where we get the meaning of a tool that makes holes, like a power drill, and the action of making a hole. The first known use of "drill" in English with this meaning (as a tool for making holes) dates back to the 1610s.
Another origin, related to the idea of repetitive training or military exercises, also seems to come from the Dutch "drillen." The idea here is about "turning" or "maneuvering" troops. This sense of the word, meaning "to instruct in military exercise," appeared in English around the 1620s. From this, the sense of any strict, methodical, or repetitive training also developed.
There's also a separate origin for "drill" when referring to a type of fabric. This comes from the German word "Drillich," which itself came from a Latin word meaning "triple-twilled" (referring to the way the threads are woven). This meaning of "drill" as a strong cotton fabric appeared in English around the 1740s.
Finally, "drill" as a small furrow for planting seeds seems to have a different and less clear origin, possibly from an older, obsolete English word "drill" meaning "rill" or "trickling stream." This agricultural meaning appeared in the 1720s.
So, in simple terms, "drill" as we know it today is a mix of words, mainly from Dutch and German, each contributing to its different uses related to making holes, training, and even fabric.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Drill
Drill down: To examine something in more detail; to investigate thoroughly.
Drill sergeant: A military instructor responsible for training recruits.
Fire drill: A practice exercise for evacuating a building in case of fire.
The daily drill: The routine or customary activities of a day.
To drill something into someone: To make someone learn or understand something by repeating it many times.
Drill team: A group of people who perform precise, synchronized movements, often in military or marching band contexts.
Drill a hole: To create an opening using a drill tool.
To bore a hole: (Using a synonym) Similar to "drill a hole," meaning to make an opening.
Pound it in: (Using a synonym) To emphasize something repeatedly until it is understood or learned.
Go through the motions: (Related to routine, like a drill) To do something in a habitual, unenthusiastic way.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of drill from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
