drilling
B2Technical/Professional in core meaning; Informal/Educational in extended meaning.
Definition
Meaning
The action or process of making a hole in something using a tool that rotates.
Intensive training through repeated exercise; also refers to a machine used for drilling or, in a different word, a type of strong, coarse fabric.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is a polysemous gerund/noun. The core meaning is physical and technical. The extended meaning (repetitive training) is a conceptual metaphor drawn from the core meaning (repetitive, precise action). The fabric 'drill' (as in 'khaki drill') is a different, homonymous word derived from the Latin 'trilix'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The noun is used identically in both varieties. The verb 'to drill' is standard.
Connotations
Neutral to slightly negative in repetitive training context ('military drilling', 'drilling for the test').
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in US English in contexts related to oil/gas extraction ('offshore drilling', 'fracking and drilling').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] + be + drilling + [object] (The crew is drilling a well).[subject] + carry out/conduct/begin + drilling + [prepositional phrase] (They began drilling in the North Sea).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Drilling down (into data/a problem)”
- “Drill it into someone's head”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to resource extraction operations, e.g., 'The company's drilling activities expanded this quarter.'
Academic
Used in geology, engineering, and dentistry. Also metaphorically in pedagogy, e.g., 'The study critiques repetitive drilling in language acquisition.'
Everyday
Most common in DIY contexts or discussing repetitive learning, e.g., 'The drilling next door is so loud.'
Technical
Precise term in construction, mining, dentistry, and oil & gas industries, specifying methods like 'directional drilling' or 'percussion drilling'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The engineer was drilling a pilot hole for the new bolt.
- The sergeant drilled the recruits on the parade ground.
American English
- They're drilling for natural gas in the shale basin.
- The coach drilled the team on defensive formations all afternoon.
adverb
British English
- Not a standard adverbial form.
American English
- Not a standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The drilling platform was visible from the shore.
- He bought a new drilling machine for the workshop.
American English
- The drilling contractor submitted the permit application.
- The drilling crew worked a 12-hour shift.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The man is drilling a hole in the wall.
- We heard drilling from the street.
- The company stopped drilling because of environmental concerns.
- The teacher used drilling to help us remember the new words.
- Advanced directional drilling allows access to reserves miles from the rig.
- Despite the tedious drilling of grammar rules, her accuracy improved markedly.
- The exploratory drilling yielded inconclusive data, leading to a reassessment of the site's potential.
- Critics argue that mere drilling of facts stifles critical thinking and creativity in students.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DRILL with a RING (drill-ing) on its handle, spinning to make a hole.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEARNING IS BORING A HOLE (Repetitive, focused effort creates a pathway for knowledge).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating the training sense as 'сверление'. Use 'тренировка', 'отработка', or 'зубрёжка' (colloquial, negative).
- The fabric 'drill' is unrelated and is 'диагональ' or 'дрилл' (transliterated).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'drilling' (noun/gerund) with 'drill' (verb/noun tool). Example mistake: 'He was drill a hole.'
- Using 'drilling' for non-repetitive practice, e.g., 'We did a drilling on public speaking' (better: 'a practice session').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'drilling' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Its core meaning is making holes, but it's widely used for intensive, repetitive training (e.g., military drilling, vocabulary drilling).
In technical contexts, 'drilling' typically uses a rotating tool (a drill bit), while 'boring' enlarges an existing hole. In everyday language, they can be synonyms.
It's neutral but can have negative connotations if implying mindless, joyless repetition. In language teaching, 'drilling' is a specific technique with both advocates and critics.
It's two syllables: DRILL-ing. The 'i' in the first syllable is short, as in 'will'. Stress is on the first syllable: DRILL-ing.