drill

drill — noun

1. a hand-held device that uses a rotating pointed metal end to create round openin

1.nounA2
Definition

a hand-held device that uses a rotating pointed metal end to create round openings in hard materials such as wood, metal, or stone walls.

Example

Tariq used an electric drill to put shelves up in the kitchen.

electric drill — common compound noun

The dentist's drill made a humming noise that made Anya feel nervous.

Common collocations
  • power drill
  • electric drill
  • cordless drill
  • hand drill
  • drill bit
  • drill hole
Synonyms
  • bore

    used more as a verb (to bore a hole); less common as a noun for the tool itself

  • bit

    refers specifically to the removable cutting piece, not the whole machine

Grammar Patterns

a + drill

drill + noun (as modifier)

Usage Note

Often modified by a type adjective such as electric, cordless, power, or hand. The compound drill bit refers to the interchangeable cutting part, not the whole tool.

Common Mistakes

I need a drill to cut this rope.
I need a knife to cut this rope.
a drill makes round holes; it does not cut through things like a blade does.

2. a structured exercise in which the same actions or steps are repeated many times

2.nounB1
Definition

a structured exercise in which the same actions or steps are repeated many times to build a skill, improve coordination, or prepare for an emergency, used especially in military, sports, or safety training.

Example

The school holds a fire drill every month so students know how to leave the building.

fire drill — common compound for emergency practice

New soldiers spent the whole morning on basic marching drills in the field.

Common collocations
  • fire drill
  • emergency drill
  • marching drill
  • evacuation drill
  • safety drill
  • practice drill
  • do a drill
  • run a drill
Synonyms
  • practice

    a broader term for any repeated activity to improve a skill; drill implies a more structured, often military-style routine

  • exercise

    focuses on the physical or mental activity itself, whereas drill emphasises repetition and discipline

  • training

    a longer-term programme of skill-building; a drill is one component of training

Grammar Patterns

a + drill (fire drill, emergency drill)

drill + noun (drill practice)

do + drill

Usage Note

Commonly appears in compounds such as fire drill, emergency drill, marching drill, and evacuation drill. In military contexts, drill as an uncountable noun refers to the overall training activity ('the soldiers spent hours on drill').

Common Mistakes

I have a doctor's drill this afternoon.
I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon.
'drill' meaning practice is not used for medical appointments.
The team did a drill for the match' (when meaning a warm-up game).
The team did a warm-up match before the game.
a drill is structured repetition, not a competitive game.

3. a style of electronic trap music with fast, heavy beats and spoken lyrics, origi

3.noun
Definition

a style of electronic trap music with fast, heavy beats and spoken lyrics, originally from Chicago and later popular in London, often describing a tough life in city neighbourhoods.

Example

Dahlia listens to drill while she works out at the gym.

drill (uncountable) — no article for the genre

The concert featured three drill artists from South London.

Common collocations
  • drill music
  • drill artist
  • drill rapper
  • drill beat
  • drill scene
  • drill track
Synonyms
  • trap

    the broader category of electronic music that drill emerged from; drill has a darker, more aggressive sound and lyrical style

  • grime

    a related UK electronic genre with fast beats; grime predates drill and has a different rhythmic structure

Grammar Patterns

drill music

drill (as genre name)

Usage Note

Uncountable — you cannot say 'a drill' to mean this genre. Use 'a drill track' or 'drill music' for a countable reference. Distinguish from noun sense 1 (the tool), which is countable.

Common Mistakes

I bought a new drill at the store' (meaning a music album).
I discovered a new drill artist online.
'drill' as a music genre is uncountable; the countable form refers to the tool.

drill — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

Drill, train, coach, and exercise all involve learning through practice, but they differ in approach and context. Drill emphasises strict, repeated practice of the same motion or procedure, often in a military or disciplinary setting — soldiers drill on the parade ground until their movements are identical. Train is broader and more structured, covering a programme of skill development over time; you can train for a marathon, a job, or a musical performance. Coach focuses on individual or team improvement through instruction, feedback, and motivation — a coach watches your technique and tells you what to fix. Exercise (as a verb) means to perform physical activity for fitness or to practise a specific skill, usually without a commander or instructor directing you. For example: 'The sergeant drilled the platoon in marching formations,' versus 'A personal trainer coached her on proper squat form,' versus 'He trained for six months before the race,' versus 'She exercises every morning to stay fit.'

drill ↗train ↗coach ↗exercise ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • drill a hole
  • drill into the ground
  • fire drill
  • emergency drill

Prepositions

Etymology

Middle DutchEnglish

The word 'drill' entered English in the early 1600s from Middle Dutch 'drillen', meaning 'to turn in a circle' or 'to bore a hole'. The tool sense appeared first. By the mid-1700s, the verb had taken on the military meaning of 'to train by repeating movements', probably comparing the repetitive turning of a drill to the repetitive marching of soldiers. The music genre sense is the newest, emerging in Chicago around 2010 and spreading to London, taking its name from the fast, repetitive drum patterns.