drill

S2 W2

BrE /drɪl/ AmE /drɪl/

noun / verb en → es

past drew pp drawn ing drawing

1 TOOL B1

a machine or tool for making holes in hard materials such as wood, metal, and stone

taladro, perforador

  • drill a hole

Collocations electric drill · hand drill

  • He used an electric drill to make holes in the wall.

    Usó un taladro eléctrico para hacer agujeros en la pared.

2 TRAIN B1

to teach or train someone by making them do something many times, especially in order to improve their skills or knowledge

entrenar, instruir

  • [transitive], T + obj + (in) + noun/gerund

Collocations drill soldiers in tactics · drill students in grammar

  • The coach drills the players in defensive strategies.

    El entrenador entrena a los jugadores en estrategias defensivas.

3 QUESTION B2

to ask someone questions, especially to test their knowledge or skills

examinar, interrogar

  • [transitive], T + obj

Collocations drill students on grammar rules · drill candidates on procedures

  • The teacher drills the class on vocabulary.

    El profesor examina a la clase sobre vocabulario.

4 OIL B1

oil that is found underground and can be used as fuel or to make plastic, paint, etc.

petróleo

  • [uncountable]
  • The company is drilling for oil in the desert.

    La empresa está perforando por petróleo en el desierto.

5 PUNCTURE B2

to make a hole in something, especially with a sharp object such as a nail or a bullet

perforar, atravesar

  • [transitive], T + obj
  • The bullet drilled through the wall.

    El balazo atravesó la pared.

6 PRACTICE B2

to practice a skill or activity repeatedly, especially as part of training

entrenarse, practicar

  • [intransitive]
  • The team drills every day to improve their performance.

    El equipo se entrena todos los días para mejorar su rendimiento.

7 MILITARY C1

to train soldiers or other military personnel in the use of weapons, tactics, etc.

entrenar a soldados

  • [transitive], T + obj
  • The soldiers were drilled in the use of firearms.

    Los soldados fueron entrenados en el uso de armas de fuego.

8 QUESTION C1

to ask someone a series of questions, especially to test their knowledge or skills

examinar, interrogar

  • [transitive], T + obj
  • The interviewer drilled the candidate on their experience.

    El entrevistador examinó al candidato sobre su experiencia.

Phrasal verbs

drill down DIG / SEARCH B2

excavar hacia abajo / buscar en profundidad

  • The company is drilling down to find oil.

    La empresa está perforando para encontrar petróleo.

drill in TRAIN B2

entrenar en

  • The coach drills the players in defensive strategies.

    El entrenador entrena a los jugadores en estrategias defensivas.

drill out REMOVE C1

extraer, remover

  • The dentist will drill out the decayed part of your tooth.

    El dentista extraerá la parte podrida de tu diente.

drill through PUNCTURE C1

perforar a través de

  • The bullet drilled through the wall.

    El balazo atravesó la pared.

drill up SEARCH C1

buscar en profundidad

  • The researchers are drilling up to find new data.

    Los investigadores están buscando en profundidad para encontrar nuevos datos.

Idioms

drill into somebody C1

inculcar a alguien

  • The coach drilled the importance of teamwork into the players.

    El entrenador inculcó la importancia del trabajo en equipo a los jugadores.

drill somebody to death C1

entrenar a alguien hasta el cansancio

  • The coach drills the players to death on defensive strategies.

    El entrenador entrena a los jugadores hasta el cansancio en estrategias defensivas.

drill something into somebody's head C1

inculcar algo en la cabeza de alguien

  • The teacher drilled the grammar rules into the students' heads.

    El profesor inculcó las reglas gramaticales en la cabeza de los estudiantes.