drizzle

American  

[driz-uhl] / ˈdrɪz əl /

verb (used without object)

drizzled, drizzling

1. to rain gently and steadily in fine drops; sprinkle.

   It drizzled throughout the night.

2. to fall in fine drops.

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verb (used with object)

drizzled, drizzling

1. to pour in a fine stream.

   Drizzle melted butter over the breadcrumb topping.

2. to rain or let fall in fine drops or particles; sprinkle.

   He then drizzled grated cheese over the hot pasta.

noun

1. a very light rain.

2. Meteorology. precipitation consisting of numerous minute droplets of water less than 0.02 inch (0.5 millimeter) in diameter.

drizzle British  

/ ˈdrɪzəl /

noun

1. very light rain, specifically consisting of droplets less than 0.5 mm in diameter

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verb

1. (intr) to rain lightly

2. (tr) to moisten with tiny droplets

Other Word Forms

• drizzly adverb

Etymology

Origin of drizzle

First recorded in 1535–45; perhaps back formation from dryseling, dissimilated variant of Middle English drysning “fall (of dew)”; akin to Old English drēosan “to fall”; cognate with Old Saxon driosan, Gothic driusan

Example Sentences

I ordered a stir fry of crab and broken rice with greens and yam that came topped with a fried soft-shell crab drizzled with shito, a Ghanaian chili sauce.

From The Wall Street Journal

Brisk northwesterly winds could bring wintry showers to the areas of northern England and drizzle in the lead up to New Year's Day.

From BBC

Even during a quiet, steady drizzle, most species will sing much as usual.

From BBC

The steady drizzle tested the limits of the string of tarps stretched across the backyard of a Maywood home.

From Los Angeles Times

Browned butter and brown sugar lend a molasses-tinged richness, while a drizzle of salted carrot caramel blurs the line between topping and filling, a glossy, amber ribbon that tastes like concentrated late-spring sun.

From Salon

Related Words

• dribble
• spray
• sprinkle