📖 D — The English dictionary · page 57

droppest — Early Modern English, meaning 1: «droppest» means «you drop», a form of «drop».↗ e.g. To drop is to let something fall from your hand; what you drop is lost to you.↗ Example: "My lord King!" says the Queen, "tell me wherefore thou droppest bitter tears?"↗ (Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore)

dropping — Everyday, meaning 1: Dropping means letting something fall, or falling.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Dropping means becoming lower or less, like dropping temperatures.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Droppings are the poo of animals and birds.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Dropping someone off means taking them somewhere in a car and leaving them there.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: To drop a curtsey means to bend the knees and lower the body as a polite greeting.↗ Example: Stop dropping crumbs on the floor!↗ · The temperature is dropping fast tonight.↗ · Dad is dropping me off at school.↗ · There were bird droppings on the car.↗ · Mouse droppings show there are mice in the house.↗ · He kept dropping the ball.↗ · I was dropping off to sleep when the phone rang.↗ · ‘If you please, sire,’ said the Princess, dropping a curtsey.↗ · A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike; (Writings PRO.27.15, JPS 1917)↗ · A foolish son is the calamity of his father; and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.↗ (Writings PRO.19.13, JPS 1917)↗ · His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as banks of sweet herbs; his lips are as lilies, dropping with flowing myrrh.↗ (Writings SNG.5.13, JPS 1917)↗

droppings — Everyday, meaning 1: The solid waste (poo) of animals and birds.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Dirt or rubbish that falls down from above, such as from a gutter.↗ Example: We found rabbit droppings in the field.↗ · Bird droppings landed on the car.↗ · Mouse droppings showed us there were mice in the shed.↗ · Don't touch animal droppings.↗ · Wash your hands after cleaning the guinea pig's cage.↗ · Owl pellets are not droppings.↗ · He had jumped into the dust-bin, where all sorts of rubbish were lying: cabbage-stalks, dust, and rain-droppings that had fallen down from the gutter under the roof.↗

dross — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: The waste scum that rises when metal is melted and that is thrown away.↗ Example: Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.↗ (Prophets ISA.1.22, JPS 1917)↗ · Burning lips and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.↗ (Writings PRO.26.23, JPS 1917)↗ · Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love Thy testimonies.↗ (Writings PSA.119.119, JPS 1917)↗

drought — Everyday, meaning 1: A long period of time with little or no rain, so the land becomes very dry and water is scarce.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A long time without something that is needed or wanted: «a goal drought».↗ Example: The drought dried up the farm dam.↗ · Many crops died during the drought.↗ · Cacti are drought-resistant plants.↗ · There's a hosepipe ban because of the drought.↗ · (Australia) Farmers struggled through a long drought.↗ · The striker ended his goal drought with a brilliant header.↗ · When a drought was impending, he scattered the peasant's seed-corn over a swamp; when a wet season was at hand, he sowed the slopes of the hills.↗ · Thus I was: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from mine eyes.↗ (Torah GEN.31.40, JPS 1917)↗ · The LORD will smite thee with consumption, and with fever, and with inflammation, and with fiery heat, and with drought, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.↗ (Torah DEU.28.22, JPS 1917)↗ · The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts.↗ (Prophets JER.14.1, JPS 1917)↗ · I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.↗ (Prophets HOS.13.5, JPS 1917)↗ · Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so doth the nether-world those that have sinned.↗ (Writings JOB.24.19, JPS 1917)↗

drove — Everyday, meaning 1: Drove is the past of drive: yesterday he drove the car.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A drove is a group of animals, like cattle or sheep, moving together.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: «In droves» means in very large numbers.↗ Example: He drove 150 miles.↗ · She drove for 3 hours at 50 miles an hour.↗ · They drove to the lake and back.↗ · How far did they drive in all?↗ · Grandpa drove us to the zoo.↗ · People came in droves to see the parade.↗ · A drove of cattle crossed the road.↗ · One day, he drove to the forest.↗ · And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.↗ (Torah GEN.15.11, JPS 1917)↗ · And the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.↗ (Torah EXO.2.17, JPS 1917)↗ · And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they took the towns thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.↗ (Torah NUM.21.32, JPS 1917)↗ · A Psalm of David; when he changed his demeanour before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.↗ (Writings PSA.34.1, JPS 1917)↗ · And Caleb drove out thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.↗ (Prophets JOS.15.14, JPS 1917)↗ · And Ephraim drove not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.↗ (Prophets JDG.1.29, JPS 1917)↗

drover — Everyday, meaning 1: A drover is a person who moves cattle or sheep from one place to another on foot, often over long distances.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Drovers were common long ago, and still work in places like Australia.↗ Example: The drover had 120 sheep.↗ · He drove the cattle 15 miles a day.↗ · The drover lost 6 cows on the way.↗ · How many days to go 90 miles?↗ · The drover rode a horse beside the herd.↗ · Australian drovers moved cattle across the outback.↗ · The drover's dog kept the sheep together.↗ · Many guests were present--horse dealers, cattle drovers, and two Englishmen.↗

drown — Everyday, meaning 1: To drown means to die because you are under water and cannot breathe.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To drown someone or something means to kill them by keeping them under water.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To drown out a sound means to be so loud that the other sound cannot be heard.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To drown can mean to have too much of something: drowning in homework.↗ Example: People can drown in very shallow water, so never leave a baby alone in the bath.↗ · Learn to swim so you are safer in the water.↗ · If you see someone drowning, shout for help and throw them something that floats.↗ · The music drowned out our voices.↗ · The lifeguard saved a boy who was drowning.↗ · I'm drowning in homework this week!↗ · Plants can drown if you give them too much water.↗ · Never swim alone in a lake or river.↗ · Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it; if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, he would utterly be contemned.↗ (Writings SNG.8.7, JPS 1917)↗

drowse — Everyday, meaning 1: To drowse is to be sleepy and half asleep.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old use) To drowse can mean to slip gently into a quiet, dreamy state.↗ Example: The cat began to drowse in the warm sun.↗ · The hum of bees made the children drowse.↗ · The old dog drowsed by the fire all evening.↗

drowsily — Everyday, meaning 1: Drowsily means in a sleepy way, slow and half awake.↗ Example: "Here it is," Ana said drowsily.↗ · He sat up drowsily and rubbed his eyes.↗ · The baby blinked drowsily at the light.↗

drowsiness — Everyday, meaning 1: Drowsiness is the feeling of being sleepy and only half awake, with heavy eyelids.↗ Example: This medicine may cause drowsiness.↗ · A warm room and a long film filled me with drowsiness.↗ · Drowsiness while driving is dangerous.↗ · After lunch, a wave of drowsiness came over the class.↗ · Drowsiness is a sign that you need more sleep.↗ · The cat yawned in drowsiness on the windowsill.↗ · But, half way home, a great drowsiness came over him; he put down his pitcher, lay down, and fell asleep.↗ · For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.↗ (Writings PRO.23.21, JPS 1917)↗

drowsy — Everyday, meaning 1: Drowsy means sleepy, when your eyes feel heavy and you could easily fall asleep.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A drowsy place or time is quiet and slow, making people feel sleepy, like a warm summer afternoon.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (medicine) Some medicines can make you drowsy; the label warns you not to drive or use machines.↗ Example: After the big lunch I felt drowsy.↗ · The drowsy cat curled up by the fire.↗ · This medicine may make you drowsy.↗ · It was a drowsy Sunday, and nobody wanted to do anything.↗ · Mum said drowsy drivers should stop and rest.↗ · The baby gave a drowsy yawn.↗ · The warm classroom made everyone drowsy.↗ · He answered drowsily from under the blanket.↗ · The relief from pain and hunger made me drowsy, and presently I fell asleep.↗

drubbing — Everyday, meaning 1: A drubbing is a hard beating, given as a punishment or in a fight.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old use) A drubbing can mean a crushing defeat in a contest.↗ Example: The naughty boy got a drubbing from his angry father.↗ · The cat gave the fox a sound drubbing.↗ · After the match, the losing team had a terrible drubbing.↗

drudgery — Everyday, meaning 1: Drudgery is hard, dull work that goes on and on, work that nobody enjoys.↗ Example: Washing up every night is drudgery.↗ · The poor boy was kept busy with endless drudgery.↗ · Cleaning all the floors by hand is hard drudgery.↗

drug — Everyday, meaning 1: A medicine used to treat or prevent an illness.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A substance that changes how the body or mind works and that people may take in a harmful or illegal way.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (verb) To give someone or an animal a drug to make them sleep or unable to act.↗ Example: The doctor gave her a drug to stop the pain.↗ · Never take pills or drugs from a stranger.↗ · The new drug was tested for years.↗ · Mum bought plasters at the drugstore.↗ · The vet drugged the lion so it would sleep.↗ · Some drugs are illegal because they are dangerous.↗ · Athletes are given drug tests.↗ · None of my drugs will avail to cure you, but, if you are willing to pay me handsomely, I can tell you how you may be cured.’↗

drugged — Everyday, meaning 1: Given a drug, often secretly or against your will, to make you sleepy or unable to act.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Feeling sleepy, slow or confused because of medicine or another drug.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (of food or drink) Having a drug secretly put in it.↗ Example: In the story, the guard was drugged and fell asleep.↗ · After the operation, I felt drugged and sleepy.↗ · The vet drugged the lion so it could be moved safely.↗ · The poisoned apple in the fairy tale was drugged.↗ · Never drink something if you do not know who made it.↗ · The spy realised his tea had been drugged.↗ · Hermes warned Odysseus that Circe would offer him a draught of drugged wine with the intention of transforming him as she had done his companions.↗

druid — Everyday, meaning 1: A druid was a priest or wise person among the ancient Celtic peoples, who knew about nature, magic and religion.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In stories a druid is a wise person with magic powers.↗ Example: The druid waved her staff and spoke the spell.↗ · The druids were wise guardians of the young prince.↗ · Long ago, a druid lived in the great oak wood.↗

drum — Everyday, meaning 1: A drum is a musical instrument made of a hollow body with skin or plastic stretched over it, played by hitting it with sticks or hands.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A drum is a large container shaped like a cylinder, for liquids: an oil drum.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To drum means to play a drum, or to tap again and again: drum your fingers.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To drum something into someone means to teach it by repeating it many times.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: The eardrum is the thin skin inside your ear.↗ Example: My brother plays the drums in a band.↗ · The drum makes a sound when its skin vibrates.↗ · Rain was drumming on the tin roof.↗ · She drummed her fingers on the desk.↗ · The road-safety rules were drummed into us.↗ · Very loud noise can damage your eardrums.↗ · There was a drumroll before the winner was announced.↗ · The Beetle smote upon the drum.↗

drumbeat — Everyday, meaning 1: The sound of a drum being hit, or a steady rhythm of such sounds.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A steady, repeated message or warning that keeps coming, like «a drumbeat of bad news».↗ Example: The band marched to a steady drumbeat.↗ · I could feel the drumbeat in my chest.↗ · We clapped along to the drumbeat.↗ · The soldiers moved in time with the drumbeat.↗ · Far away in the jungle, a drumbeat began.↗ · There was a constant drumbeat of complaints about the noise.↗ · Then the drumbeats subsided and faintly marked the rhythm of the singing.↗

drumhead — Everyday, meaning 1: The drumhead is the tight skin or plastic sheet stretched across a drum, which is hit to make the sound.↗ Example: Tap the drumhead gently with your fingers.↗ · The drumhead split when the drummer hit it too hard.↗ · The old drum needed a new drumhead.↗

drummer — Everyday, meaning 1: A drummer is a person who plays the drums, for example in a band, orchestra or marching band.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (older use) A drummer boy beat a drum for marching soldiers.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (US, old-fashioned) A travelling salesman.↗ Example: My brother is the drummer in the school band.↗ · The drummer kept a steady beat.↗ · The drummer counted «one, two, three, four» before the song.↗ · In old battles, a drummer boy marched with the soldiers.↗ · She wants to be a drummer when she grows up.↗ · He marches to the beat of a different drummer; he does things his own way.↗ · The drummer beat a roll--a roll of joy.↗