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REFERENCE

drilling

n.
US //ˈdɹɪɫɪŋ// UK //dɹˈɪlɪŋ// drilling
  1. 1 making holes (n.)
    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.

    Example

    The loud sound of drilling from the construction site next door made it hard to sleep.

    Example

    Offshore drilling for oil remains a controversial topic due to the potential environmental impact on marine ecosystems.

  2. 2 repeated practice (n.)
    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.

    Example

    The coach spent the afternoon drilling the players on their passing skills.

    Example

    Language teachers often use repetitive drilling to help students internalise difficult grammatical structures or pronunciation patterns.

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  1. 3 heavy fabric (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

    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.

    Example

    The workers wore heavy drilling trousers to protect their legs from scratches.

    Example

    The historical costume was reconstructed using authentic cotton drilling to match the texture of nineteenth-century military attire.

Etymology 1

From drill + -ing.

Etymology 2

From German Drilling (“gun with three barrels; triplet”).

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