# drilling

Pronunciation: say "DRIL-ing" /ˈdɹɪlɪŋ/

## Verb

1. Present participle and gerund of drill. — present participle and gerund of drill
   - Simple: Present participle and gerund of drill. Use this form for action happening now or as the name of the activity.
   - _The crew kept drilling into the bedrock all night._
   - _Drilling for oil offshore requires specialized rigs._

## Noun

2. The act or process of boring holes into a material using a rotating tool.
   - Simple: The work of making holes in something with a drill or similar tool.
   - _The drilling reached a depth of two hundred feet by week's end._
   - _Offshore drilling poses significant environmental risks._
3. A heavy, twilled fabric of linen or cotton, also known as drill.
   - Simple: A strong, thick cloth made from cotton or linen, woven in a slanted pattern.
   - _The tailor chose a sturdy drilling for the uniform jackets._
   - _Drilling holds up well against repeated washing and hard wear._
4. A long firearm built with three barrels, typically combining shotgun and rifle barrels.
   - Simple: A long gun that has three barrels, usually mixing shotgun and rifle barrels.
   - _A drilling lets a hunter switch between birdshot and a rifle round without changing guns._
   - _She inherited a finely engraved drilling from a German gunmaker._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–2** — Formed from "drill" plus the suffix "-ing."
**Meaning 4** — From German "Drilling," meaning "a gun with three barrels" or "triplet."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/drilling (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).