verb

drill

drihl

verb

To make a hole in something using a rotating cutting tool.

"He drilled a hole in the wall to hang the shelf."

To practise something repeatedly, often in a military or training context, until it becomes automatic.

"The recruits were drilled every morning before dawn."

"The teacher drilled the students on their times tables."

noun

A tool or machine used for boring holes.

"She grabbed the drill to put up the new curtain rail."

A repeated practice exercise designed to build a skill or prepare for an emergency.

"The school held a fire drill on Tuesday."

A dark, gritty style of trap music known for aggressive, often violent lyrics.

"The playlist mixed drill tracks with old-school hip-hop."

How to Use Drill

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo bore a hole with a spinning tool, or to practise something over and over until it sticks — also a name for a hard-edged rap genre.

Common pairings

power drill fire drill drill sergeant drill music

Word Forms

drilled past tense, drilled past tense, drilled past tense, drilled past tense, drills plural, drills plural, drills plural, drills plural, drills plural, drills singular, drills singular, drills singular, drills singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He _____ a hole in the wall to hang the shelf.

Rhymes for drill

ill kill mill sill bill will till hill fill Jill dill gill

See all rhymes for drill →