drizzle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   very light rain falling in fine drops

   A cold drizzle continued throughout the afternoon.

2. 2
   verb

   to rain in very small, light drops

   It began to drizzle as the hikers reached the ridge.

3. 3
   verb

   to pour a thin stream of liquid over food

   Drizzle the roasted vegetables with olive oil before serving.

Simplified etymology

Drizzle, recorded from the mid-16th century, comes from Old English drēosan, meaning “to drop” or “fall.” The word meaning “gore” from which dreary developed was related to the same Old English verb.

Recorded in English from the sixteenth century; its earlier history is uncertain, though it is probably related to Germanic words for fine falling moisture or dew. The culinary verb developed from the image of liquid falling in fine drops.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary