DRIBBLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does dribble mean? 

• DRIBBLE (noun)
  The noun DRIBBLE has 3 senses:

1. flowing in drops; the formation and falling of drops of liquid

2. saliva spilling from the mouth

3. the propulsion of a ball by repeated taps or kicks

  Familiarity information: DRIBBLE used as a noun is uncommon.

• DRIBBLE (verb)
  The verb DRIBBLE has 4 senses:

1. run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream

2. let or cause to fall in drops

3. propel

4. let saliva drivel from the mouth

  Familiarity information: DRIBBLE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DRIBBLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Flowing in drops; the formation and falling of drops of liquid

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

dribble; drip; trickle

Context example:

there's a drip through the roof

Hypernyms ("dribble" is a kind of...):

flow; flowing (the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dribble"):

intravenous drip (slow continuous drip introducing solutions intravenously (a drop at a time))

Derivation:

dribble (let or cause to fall in drops)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Saliva spilling from the mouth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

dribble; drivel; drool; slobber

Hypernyms ("dribble" is a kind of...):

saliva; spit; spittle (a clear liquid secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands and mucous glands of the mouth; moistens the mouth and starts the digestion of starches)

Derivation:

dribble (let saliva drivel from the mouth)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The propulsion of a ball by repeated taps or kicks

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

dribble; dribbling

Hypernyms ("dribble" is a kind of...):

actuation; propulsion (the act of propelling)

Domain category:

association football; soccer (a football game in which two teams of 11 players try to kick or head a ball into the opponents' goal)

basketball; basketball game; hoops (a game played on a court by two opposing teams of 5 players; points are scored by throwing the ball through an elevated horizontal hoop)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dribble"):

double dribble (an illegal dribble in basketball (the player uses both hands to dribble or the player starts to dribble a second time after coming to a stop))

Derivation:

dribble (propel)

• DRIBBLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they dribble    ... he / she / it dribbles   
Past simple: dribbled   
Past participle: dribbled   
-ing form: dribbling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

dribble; filter; trickle

Context example:

reports began to dribble in

Hypernyms (to "dribble" is one way to...):

course; feed; flow; run (move along, of liquids)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dribble"):

leach; percolate (permeate or penetrate gradually)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Sentence example:

Water and oil dribble into the bowl

Sense 2

Meaning:

Let or cause to fall in drops

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

dribble; drip; drop

Context example:

dribble oil into the mixture

Hypernyms (to "dribble" is one way to...):

pour (cause to run)

Verb group:

drip (fall in drops)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence example:

The women dribble water into the bowl

Derivation:

dribble (flowing in drops; the formation and falling of drops of liquid)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Propel

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

carry; dribble

Context example:

dribble the ball

Hypernyms (to "dribble" is one way to...):

hit (cause to move by striking)

Domain category:

athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

dribble (the propulsion of a ball by repeated taps or kicks)

dribbler (a basketball player who is dribbling the ball to advance it)

dribbling (the propulsion of a ball by repeated taps or kicks)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Let saliva drivel from the mouth

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

dribble; drivel; drool; slabber; slaver; slobber

Context example:

The baby drooled

Hypernyms (to "dribble" is one way to...):

salivate (produce saliva)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

dribble (saliva spilling from the mouth)

dribbler (a person who dribbles)

 Context examples 

Interestingly, they found that the mammalian version of FLP-7 (called Tachykinin) had been identified 80 years ago as a peptide that triggered muscle contractions when dribbled on pig intestines.

(Scientists Find Brain Hormone That Triggers Fat Burning, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Whether it’s passing, or tackling, or dribbling, there’s no one to touch him, and then, he’s got the head, and can hold us all together.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)