drill

Everyday

1. A tool or machine for making holes in wood, metal, stone or teeth. tree →
2. A practice of what to do in an emergency: "a fire drill". tree →
3. Repeated practice to learn something well: "a spelling drill". tree →
4. As a verb, to make a hole with a drill, or to train by repeating. tree →

In the lessons

In safety lessons, fire drills and lockdown drills practise leaving or staying safe calmly. In sport, drills are repeated exercises. In maths, number drills practise times tables. At the dentist, a drill cleans out a bad part of a tooth. Phrases: fire drill, earthquake drill, electric drill, drill a hole, times-table drill, the drill (the usual way).

Examples

• We had a fire drill at school today. tree →
• Dad used a drill to put up the shelf. tree →
• The dentist drilled out the hole in my tooth. tree →
• The coach made us do passing drills. tree →
• In an earthquake drill we drop, cover and hold on. tree →
• Workers drilled deep to find water. tree →
• You know the drill: shoes off at the door. tree →

Note

Countable as a noun; the verb is regular (drilled, drilling). "You know the drill" means you know the usual way things are done. Safety: in a fire drill walk, do not run, leave your things, and go to the meeting point. Power drills are for adults only.