dribble

/ˈdrɪbəl/

/ˈdrɪbəl/

Other forms: dribbled; dribbles

A dribble is a slow, steady flow of water. Or, if you are a basketball player, you dribble the ball to make your way towards the basket.

Dribbling consists of tiny drops of water (or another liquid) dripping. If you've ever had a leaky faucet going drip-drip-drip-drip, then you know exactly what dribbling is like, and how annoying it can be. Dribbling in basketball isn't annoying at all; in fact, it's an essential skill. If you think about it, the repeated tap-tap-tap of the ball sounds a bit like the drip-drip-drip of the water dribbling.

Definitions of dribble

1. noun

   flowing in drops; the formation and falling of drops of liquid
   synonyms: drip, trickle

   types:

   intravenous drip

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

   type of:

   flow, flowing

   the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
2. noun

   saliva spilling from the mouth
   synonyms: drivel, drool, slobber

   type 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
3. verb

   run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
   “reports began to dribble in”

   synonyms: filter, trickle

   types:

   leach, percolate

   permeate or penetrate gradually

   type of:

   course, feed, flow, run

   move along, of liquids
4. verb

   let or cause to fall in drops
   “dribble oil into the mixture”

   synonyms: drip, drop

   drip

   fall in drops

   type of:

   pour

   cause to run
5. verb

   let saliva drivel from the mouth
   synonyms: drivel, drool, slabber, slaver, slobber

   type of:

   salivate

   produce saliva
6. noun

   the propulsion of a ball by repeated taps or kicks
   synonyms: dribbling

   types:

   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)

   type of:

   actuation, propulsion

   the act of propelling
7. verb

   propel
   “dribble the ball”

   synonyms: carry

   type of:

   hit

   cause to move by striking