dribble

Everyday

1. To let liquid, especially spit, run slowly out of your mouth: babies dribble. tree →
2. (of liquid) To fall or flow slowly in drops or a thin stream. tree →
3. (sport) To move a ball along by giving it many small kicks (football) or bounces (basketball) while running. tree →
4. (noun) A small, thin stream of liquid, or spit coming from the mouth. tree →

In the lessons

In PE lessons, pupils practise dribbling a football through cones or a basketball down the court. In everyday life babies and dogs dribble. In science, a tap may dribble when the water pressure is low. Phrases: «dribble past», «dribble the ball», «a dribble of», «dribble down».

Examples

• The baby dribbled all over his bib. tree →
• She dribbled the ball past three defenders. tree →
• Water dribbled from the leaky tap. tree →
• The basketball player dribbled to the hoop. tree →
• A dribble of honey ran down the jar. tree →
• The dog dribbled when it smelled the sausages. tree →
• We practised dribbling round the cones in PE. tree →

Note

Past «dribbled», -ing «dribbling». UK also uses «drool» or «slobber» for spit; US «drool» is more common. In basketball, «double dribble» (bouncing with two hands or stopping and starting again) breaks the rules.