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DRIZZLY

 - 3 dictionary results

driz⋅zle

  [driz-uhl] verb, -zled, -zling, noun
Use DRIZZLY in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to rain gently and steadily in fine drops; sprinkle: It drizzled throughout the night.
2. to fall in fine drops.
–verb (used with object)
3. to rain or let fall in fine drops; sprinkle: He drizzled honey over the fruit.
4. to pour in a fine stream: Drizzle melted butter over the breadcrumb topping.
–noun
5. a very light rain.
6. Meteorology. precipitation consisting of numerous, minute droplets of water less than 1/50 in. (0.5 mm) in diameter.
Origin:
1535–45; perh. back formation from dryseling, dissimilated var. of ME drysning fall (of dew); akin to OE drēosan to fall; c. OS driosan, Goth driusan

Related forms:
drizzly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To DRIZZLY
driz·zle   (drĭz'əl)   
v.   driz·zled, driz·zling, driz·zles

v.   intr.
To rain gently in fine, mistlike drops.
v.   tr.

  1. To let fall in fine drops or particles: drizzled melted butter over the asparagus.

  2. To moisten with fine drops: drizzled the asparagus with melted butter.

n.  A fine, gentle, misty rain.

[Perhaps from Middle English drisning, fall of dew, from Old English -drysnian, in gedrysnian, to pass away, vanish; see dhreu- in Indo-European roots.]
driz'zly adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

drizzle 
1543, alteration of drysning "a falling of dew" (14c.), from O.E. -drysnian, related to dreosan "to fall."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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