I. ˈdribəl verb
( dribbled ; dribbled ; dribbling -b(ə)liŋ ; dribbles )
Etymology: freq. of drib (I)
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to fall or flow in drops or in a quick succession of drops or in a thin intermittent stream : trickle
to prevent dribbling of fuel from an injection nozzle
uncontrollable dribbling of urine
b. : to issue like a trickling liquid slowly and sporadically in a succession of tiny portions
the dribbling sands of an hourglass
allowing the seeds to dribble along the ground
letting smoke dribble through his chiseled nostrils — John Galsworthy
2. : to let saliva drip, trickle, or ooze from a corner of the mouth (as of a teething infant or an imbecile) : drool , drivel
picnickers, dribbling in anticipation of the barbecue
3. : to drift, sift, issue, or dwindle slowly, little by little, or one by one in a sluggish succession
replies to the questionnaire are dribbling in
words, like ideas, were dribbling back into her mind — Ellen Glasgow
he saw the people dribbling out by twos and threes — Mary Austin
the piano and the singing dribbled away — Berton Rouechè
4.
a. : to dribble a ball or puck
b. : to proceed by dribbling
the guard dribbled down the sideline
transitive verb
1. : to let or cause to fall in drops or slowly little by little
the chief dribbled wine on the ground
dribble in the cereal and boil
the young couple dribble rice from their clothes
2.
a. : to dispense or disperse sporadically and in small bits
dribbled out funds in small grants-in-aid to individual scientists — J.P.Baxter
a very famous informer dribbled out his revelations over a period of ten years — John Steinbeck
b. : fritter — used with away
why had they dribbled away (yes, and sold out) their gifts for such trifling gains — Samuel Yellen
as they dribble away their days in futility, hoping vainly for a miracle — Time
c. : to daub or press (paint) straight from the tube onto canvas
dribble his paint instead of using brushes — R.M.Coates
3. : to propel and maintain control of (a ball or puck) by successive slight taps or bounces with hand, foot, or stick
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. archaic : a small quantity of a liquid
burghers husbanded their dribbles of brandy — Sir Walter Scott
b. : liquid dripping in a small stream (as from the mouth or a leak)
a brown dribble at the corner of his mouth
2.
a. : a descent of liquid in drops or a thin stream:
(1) : a drizzling shower
(2) : a falling or leaking in drops
need we call a plumber for these few dribbles
b. : an inconsiderable and fitful flow : trickle
on the roads a monotonous dribble of gray army lorries, jeeps, motorcycles — Earle Birney
the export of private capital is a dribble , not a flow — R.R.Nathan
3.
a. : a tiny or insignificant bit of something that appears sporadically
they come in dribbles from Shanghai — Han Suyin
news material issued in dribbles
b. : a trifling or insignificant sum of money
until I can begin to send you a dribble now and then — Booth Tarkington
4. : an act or instance of dribbling a ball or puck
5. : dregs of molten glass remaining in the melting pot after pouring