drill
n. C / Un. a tool used for making holes in hard materials like wood or metal. It can also mean a regular practice or exercise you do to learn a skill.
n. a hand-held or power-driven tool with a rotating cutting tip used for boring holes. Also refers to a repetitive training exercise or a disciplined procedure for emergency situations.
I need a power drill to hang these shelves.
The school holds a fire drill every month so students know exactly where to go during an emergency.
The sergeant led the recruits through a rigorous drill to ensure their movements were perfectly synchronized before the parade.
From Middle Dutch drillen (“bore, move in a circle”).
Perhaps the same as Etymology 3; compare German Rille which can also mean "small furrow".
Uncertain. Compare the same sense of trill, and German trillen, drillen. Attestation predates Etymology 1.
From Middle English drillen (“to delay, defer, put off”), of origin unknown.
] Source unknown. Probably of African origin; compare mandrill.
From German Drillich (“denim, canvas, drill”).
Countable when referring to the tool or a specific exercise; uncountable when referring to the general concept of repetitive training.
- 01
drill down
To examine information at another level or in greater detail; especially in a database, to navigate to a more detailed level or record.
- 02
fire drill
Any pointless, unproductive, useless, or chaotic activity.
- 03
know the drill
To be acquainted with the normal process or procedure of a given activity or situation; to be familiar with how something is done.