Word
trickle
Phoneticstrick·le, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɹɪkəɫ/
UK/tɹˈɪkəl/
Definitions
01liquid flowing slowly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to flow slowly in a very thin stream or in small drops.
v. to flow or fall in a thin, slow stream or in a series of drops. Often used as an intransitive verb.
“Water started to trickle down the wall after the heavy rainstorm.”
“A small stream of melted snow began to trickle through the cracks in the pavement as the afternoon temperature rose above freezing.”
02moving slowly in small groups
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to move slowly and in small numbers, like people entering a building.
v. to move, arrive, or depart gradually or in small groups rather than all at once.
“The guests began to trickle into the hall about an hour before the wedding.”
“Information about the new policy started to trickle out to the press, despite the company's efforts to keep the details confidential.”
03a thin stream
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a small, thin flow of liquid.
n. a thin, slow, or intermittent flow of liquid; can also refer to the sound produced by such a flow.
“The tap was old and only produced a tiny trickle of water.”
“The hikers followed a narrow trickle of water up the mountain, hoping it would lead them to a larger spring.”
Real-World Examples
“The numbers are now trickling in: nearly 2,900 dead in the UK, at least 35,000 dead across Europe.” “Rushworth’s face said it all as the ball trickled over the line.” Etymology
From Middle English triklen, likely a rebracketing (e.g. teres strikled > teerys trikled (“tears trickled”)) of Middle English striklen (“to trickle”), equivalent to strike + -le. For other similar cases of incorrect division, see also apron, daffodil, newt, nickname, orange, umpire.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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