[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/dribble/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [D](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/d/) / dribble

# dribble

verb (dribble, dribbles, dribbled, dribbling); noun (a dribble, dribbles)

«dribble» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To let liquid, especially spit, run slowly out of your mouth: babies dribble. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dribble/#m1)
2. (of liquid) To fall or flow slowly in drops or a thin stream. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dribble/#m2)
3. (sport) To move a ball along by giving it many small kicks (football) or bounces (basketball) while running. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dribble/#m3)
4. (noun) A small, thin stream of liquid, or spit coming from the mouth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dribble/#m4)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dribble/#x1)
- She dribbled the ball past three defenders. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dribble/#x2)
- Water dribbled from the leaky tap. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dribble/#x3)
- The basketball player dribbled to the hoop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dribble/#x4)
- A dribble of honey ran down the jar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dribble/#x5)
- The dog dribbled when it smelled the sausages. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dribble/#x6)
- We practised dribbling round the cones in PE. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dribble/#x7)

### 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.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «dribble» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dribble/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«dribble» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dribble.html) on Mova free.