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dribble

 - 3 dictionary results

drib⋅ble

  [drib-uhl] verb, -bled, -bling, noun
Use dribble in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
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)
4. to let fall in drops.
5. Sports.
a. Basketball. to bounce (the ball) as in advancing or keeping control of it.
b. (esp. in ice hockey and soccer) to move (the ball or puck) along by a rapid succession of short kicks or pushes.
–noun
6. a small trickling stream or a drop.
7. a small quantity of anything: a dribble of revenue.
8. Sports. an act or instance of dribbling a ball or puck.
9. Scot. a drizzle; a light rain.
Origin:
1555–65; freq. of obs. drib (v.), prob. var. of drip

Related forms:
dribbler, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dribble
drib·ble   (drĭb'əl)   
v.   drib·bled, drib·bling, drib·bles

v.   intr.

  1. To flow or fall in drops or an unsteady stream; trickle: Water dribbled from the leaky faucet.

  2. To let saliva drip from the mouth; drool.

  3. Sports

    1. To dribble a ball or puck.

    2. To advance by dribbling: dribbled down the court.

v.   tr.

  1. To let flow or fall in drops or an unsteady stream.

  2. Sports

    1. To move (a ball or puck) by repeated light bounces or kicks, as in basketball or soccer.

    2. To hit (a baseball, for example) so that it bounces slowly.

n.  

  1. A weak, unsteady stream; a trickle.

  2. A small quantity; a bit.

  3. Sports The act of dribbling a ball.


[Frequentative of obsolete drib, alteration of drip.]
drib'bler n.
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

dribble 
c.1589, frequentative of obsolete drib (1523), var. of drip. Sports sense first used of soccer (1863), basketball is early 20c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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