2 PHRASE If you say that someone is in the driver's seat , you mean that they are in control in a situation. □ Now he knows he's in the driver's seat and can wait for a better deal.
dri ve shaft (drive shafts ) N‑COUNT A drive shaft is a shaft in a car or other vehicle that transfers power from the gear box to the wheels.
dri ve-through ADJ [ADJ n] A drive-through shop or restaurant is one where you can buy things without leaving your car. □ …a drive-through burger bar.
drive|way /dra I vwe I / (driveways ) N‑COUNT A driveway is a piece of hard ground that leads from the road to the front of a house or other building.
driv|ing /dra I v I ŋ/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] The driving force or idea behind something that happens or is done is the main thing that has a strong effect on it and makes it happen or be done in a particular way. □ Consumer spending was the driving force behind the economic growth in the summer.
2 → see also drive
dri v|ing li|cence (driving licences ) N‑COUNT A driving licence is a card showing that you are qualified to drive because you have passed a driving test. [BRIT ] in AM, use driver's license
dri v|ing ra nge (driving ranges ) N‑COUNT A driving range is an outdoor place where you can practise playing golf.
dri v|ing school (driving schools ) N‑COUNT A driving school is a business that employs instructors who teach people how to drive a car.
dri v|ing seat
1 N‑SING In a vehicle such as a car or a bus, the driving seat is the seat where the person who is driving the vehicle sits. □ He got into the driving seat and started the engine.
2 PHRASE If you say that someone is in the driving seat , you mean that they are in control in a situation. □ At 69 he is as firmly in the driving seat of the company as ever.
driz|zle /dr I z ə l/ (drizzles , drizzling , drizzled )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] Drizzle is light rain falling in fine drops. □ The drizzle had now stopped and the sun was breaking through.
2 VERB If it is drizzling , it is raining very lightly. □ [V ] Clouds had come down and it was starting to drizzle.
driz|zly /dr I zəli/ ADJ When the weather is drizzly , the sky is dull and grey and it rains steadily but not very hard. □ …a dull, drizzly afternoon. □ It was dull and slightly drizzly as we left.
droll /droʊ l/ ADJ Something or someone that is droll is amusing or witty, sometimes in an unexpected way. [WRITTEN ] □ The band have a droll sense of humour.
drone /droʊ n/ (drones , droning , droned )
1 VERB If something drones , it makes a low, continuous, dull noise. □ [V ] Above him an invisible plane droned through the night sky. □ [V -ing] …a virtually non-stop droning noise in the background. ● N‑SING Drone is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the constant drone of the motorways. ● dron|ing N‑SING □ [+ of ] …the droning of a plane far overhead.
2 VERB If you say that someone drones , you mean that they keep talking about something in a boring way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V ] Chambers' voice droned, maddening as an insect around his head. ● N‑SING Drone is also a noun. □ The minister's voice was a relentless drone. ● PHRASAL VERB Drone on means the same as drone . □ [V P ] Aunt Maimie's voice droned on. □ [V P + about ] Daniel just drones on about American policy.
3 N‑COUNT A drone is a type of aircraft that does not have a pilot and is controlled by someone on the ground. □ Drones frequently pass over this region.
▸ drone on → see drone 2
drool /druː l/ (drools , drooling , drooled )
1 VERB To drool over someone or something means to look at them with great pleasure, perhaps in an exaggerated or ridiculous way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V + over ] Fashion editors drooled over every item. □ [V prep] Advertisers are already drooling at reports that this might bring 20 million dollars. [Also V ]
2 VERB If a person or animal drools , saliva drops slowly from their mouth. □ [V ] My dog Jacques is drooling on my shoulder.
droop /druː p/ (droops , drooping , drooped ) VERB If something droops , it hangs or leans downwards with no strength or firmness. □ [V ] Crook's eyelids drooped. ● N‑SING Droop is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the droop of his shoulders.
droopy /druː pi/ (droopier , droopiest ) ADJ If you describe something as droopy , you mean that it hangs down with no strength or firmness. □ …a tall man with a droopy moustache.
drop ◆◆◇ /drɒ p/ (drops , dropping , dropped )
1 VERB If a level or amount drops or if someone or something drops it, it quickly becomes less. □ [V prep/adv] Temperatures can drop to freezing at night. □ [V ] His blood pressure had dropped severely. □ [V n] He had dropped the price of his London home by £1.25m. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Drop is also a noun. □ [+ in ] He was prepared to take a drop in wages.
2 VERB If you drop something, you accidentally let it fall. □ [V n] I dropped my glasses and broke them.
3 VERB If something drops onto something else, it falls onto that thing. If something drops from somewhere, it falls from that place. □ [V prep/adv] He felt hot tears dropping onto his fingers.