FluencyCraft

drill

"Drill" is a very practical word with several common meanings. It can be a tool, an action, or a type of practice — and it shows up in everyday life, school, the workplace, and the military. Here are the most useful senses.

1nounpower tool

A drill is a tool — usually electric — that spins a sharp metal bit very fast to make holes in things like wood, metal, or walls. You have probably seen one at a hardware store or used by a builder.

everyday language, construction, dentistry · Modern, widely used

He used a drill to make holes in the wall before hanging the shelves.

Make sure the drill bit matches the size of the screw you are using.

The dentist's drill made a high-pitched noise that made her nervous.

2verbmake a hole

When you drill something, you use a drill (or a similar tool) to bore a hole into a surface. Think of it as spinning your way through a material.

construction, engineering, everyday language · Modern, widely used

They drilled through the concrete to lay the new pipes.

She drilled a small hole in the wooden box to thread the wire through.

The workers drilled deep into the ground to search for oil.

3nounpractice exercise

A drill is a repeated exercise that helps you practice something until you can do it quickly and automatically. Schools, sports teams, and the military all use drills. The idea is: do it again and again until it becomes natural.

education, sports, military, safety · Modern, widely used

The football coach ran passing drills with the team every morning.

The students did vocabulary drills to memorize the new words.

A fire drill teaches everyone how to leave the building safely and quickly.

4verbtrain through repetition

To drill someone means to make them practice something over and over so they learn it deeply. A teacher might drill students on grammar rules, or a coach might drill a team on a specific move.

education, sports, military · Modern, widely used

The instructor drilled the recruits on the safety procedures every day.

Her piano teacher drilled her on scales for thirty minutes each lesson.

The coach drilled the players on their defensive positions until they got it right.

5verbfigurativequestion intensely

When someone drills you with questions, they ask you many questions in a very direct, persistent way — almost like they are boring into you to get information. This is a figurative use of the word.

everyday language, journalism, law · Modern, widely used · figurative

The journalist drilled the politician with tough questions about the scandal.

During the interview, the panel drilled him about his previous work experience.

Her parents drilled her about where she had been all evening.

Content generated by AI — may contain inaccuracies