dribble

[ drib-uhl ]
See synonyms for: dribbledribbling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),drib·bled, drib·bling.
  1. to fall or flow in drops or small quantities; trickle.

  2. to drivel; slaver.

  1. Sports. to advance a ball or puck by bouncing it or giving it a series of short kicks or pushes.

verb (used with object),drib·bled, drib·bling.
  1. to let fall in drops.

  2. Sports.

    • Basketball. to bounce (the ball) as in advancing or keeping control of it.

    • (especially in ice hockey and soccer) to move (the ball or puck) along by a rapid succession of short kicks or pushes.

noun
  1. a small trickling stream or a drop.

  2. a small quantity of anything: a dribble of revenue.

  1. Sports. an act or instance of dribbling a ball or puck.

  2. Scot. a drizzle; a light rain.

Origin of dribble

1
1555–65; frequentative of obsolete drib (v.), probably variant of drip

Other words from dribble

  • dribbler, noun

Words Nearby dribble

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use dribble in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dribble

dribble

/ (ˈdrɪbəl) /


verb
  1. (usually intr) to flow or allow to flow in a thin stream or drops; trickle

  2. (intr) to allow saliva to trickle from the mouth

  1. (in soccer, basketball, hockey, etc) to propel (the ball) by repeatedly tapping it with the hand, foot, or stick

noun
  1. a small quantity of liquid falling in drops or flowing in a thin stream

  2. a small quantity or supply

  1. an act or instance of dribbling

Origin of dribble

1
C16: frequentative of drib, variant of drip

Derived forms of dribble

  • dribbler, noun
  • dribbly, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012