drizzle
[ driz-uh l ]
/ ˈdrɪz əl /
verb (used without object), driz·zled, driz·zling.
to rain gently and steadily in fine drops; sprinkle: It drizzled throughout the night.
to fall in fine drops.
verb (used with object), driz·zled, driz·zling.
to pour in a fine stream: Drizzle melted butter over the breadcrumb topping.
to rain or let fall in fine drops or particles; sprinkle: He then drizzled grated cheese over the hot pasta.
noun
a very light rain.
Meteorology. precipitation consisting of numerous minute droplets of water less than 1/50 (0.02) inch (0.5 mm) in diameter.
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Origin of drizzle
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
Related formsdriz·zly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for drizzly
British Dictionary definitions for drizzly
drizzle
/ (ˈdrɪzəl) /
noun
very light rain, specifically consisting of droplets less than 0.5 mm in diameter
verb
(intr) to rain lightly
(tr) to moisten with tiny droplets
Derived Formsdrizzly, adjective
Word Origin for drizzle
Old English drēosan to fall; related to Old Saxon driosan, Gothic driusan, Norwegian drjōsa
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for drizzly
drizzle
1540s, perhaps an alteration of drysning "a falling of dew" (c.1400), from Old English -drysnian, related to dreosan "to fall," from PIE root *dhreu- (see drip (v.)). Or perhaps a frequentative of Middle English dresen "to fall," from Old English dreosan. Related: Drizzled; drizzling. As a noun, from 1550s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper