dribble

American  

[drib-uhl] / ˈdrɪb əl /

verb (used without object)

dribbled, dribbling

1. to fall or flow in drops or small quantities; trickle.

2. to drivel; slaver.

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

---

verb (used with object)

dribbled, dribbling

1. to let fall in drops.

2. Sports.

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

   2. (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.

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

4. Scot. a drizzle; a light rain.

dribble British  

/ 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

3. (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

3. an act or instance of dribbling

Other Word Forms

• dribbler noun
• dribbly adjective

Etymology

Origin of dribble

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

Example Sentences

One sample: “Chuck Norris can dribble a bowling ball.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The gifted Barcelona forward failed to even dribble past Hall, and was ultimately restricted to just a single effort from open play from a tight angle.

From BBC

I would rather let my tongue and teeth boil than let him see me dribble hot chocolate back into the cup.

From Literature

The Lakers star then passed to a hustling Austin Reaves, who took a few dribbles to get a Kings defender to commit before making an alley-oop pass to James for a two-handed, rim-hanging dunk.

From Los Angeles Times

Eventually, the bounce lessened to a dribble, and then the dribble sputtered to a trickle, until it finally reduced back to his usual lumbering step.

From Literature

Related Words

• drizzle
• ooze
• squirt