drilling
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of making a hole in a hard surface like wood, metal, or the ground.
the mechanical process of boring a hole into a solid material or the earth, typically for construction or resource extraction.
Simple“The loud sound of drilling from the construction site next door made it hard to sleep.”
In context“Offshore drilling for oil remains a controversial topic due to the potential environmental impact on marine ecosystems.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a way of learning or training by doing the same thing many times.
a method of training or teaching through the constant repetition of specific exercises or tasks to ensure automaticity.
Simple“The coach spent the afternoon drilling the players on their passing skills.”
In context“Language teachers often use repetitive drilling to help students internalise difficult grammatical structures or pronunciation patterns.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
a very strong, thick cloth often used for work clothes or uniforms.
a durable, heavy-weight twilled cotton or linen fabric, frequently utilised in the manufacture of military uniforms and workwear.
Simple“The workers wore heavy drilling trousers to protect their legs from scratches.”
In context“The historical costume was reconstructed using authentic cotton drilling to match the texture of nineteenth-century military attire.”
Synonymstwillcanvas
“Some of the more experienced miners are deep in holes excavating the earth and drilling at rocks with the same goal.”
“More than 200 musicians including Massive Attack and Brian Eno have written to Andy Burnham urging him to reject plans for more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.”
From drill + -ing.
From German Drilling (“gun with three barrels; triplet”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.