drub|bing /drʌ b I ŋ/ (drubbings ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If someone gets a drubbing , they are defeated easily. [INFORMAL ]
drudge /drʌ dʒ/ (drudges ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a drudge , you mean they have to work hard at a job which is not very important or interesting.
drudg|ery /drʌ dʒəri/ N‑UNCOUNT You use drudgery to refer to jobs and tasks which are boring or unpleasant but which must be done. □ People want to get away from the drudgery of their everyday lives.
drug ◆◆◆ /drʌ g/ (drugs , drugging , drugged )
1 N‑COUNT A drug is a chemical which is given to people in order to treat or prevent an illness or disease. □ The drug will be useful to hundreds of thousands of infected people. □ …the drug companies.
2 N‑COUNT Drugs are substances that some people take because of their pleasant effects, but which are usually illegal. □ His mother was on drugs, on cocaine. □ She was sure Leo was taking drugs. □ …the problem of drug abuse.
3 VERB If you drug a person or animal, you give them a chemical substance in order to make them sleepy or unconscious. □ [V n] She was drugged and robbed.
4 VERB If food or drink is drugged , a chemical substance is added to it in order to make someone sleepy or unconscious when they eat or drink it. □ [be V -ed] I wonder now if that drink had been drugged. □ [V n] Anyone could have drugged that wine. COLLOCATIONS drug NOUN
1
noun + drug : cancer, diabetes; prescription
adjective + drug : anti-inflammatory, antiviral, experimental, generic; life-saving
verb + drug : prescribe
2
adjective + drug : banned, illegal, illicit, prohibited; performance-enhancing, recreational
verb + drug : deal, smuggle, supply; take, use; possess SYNONYMS drug NOUN 1
medication: Are you on any medication?
medicine: People in hospitals are dying because of shortage of medicine.
remedy: …natural remedies to help overcome winter infections.
treatment: …an effective treatment for eczema.
dru g a d|dict (drug addicts ) N‑COUNT A drug addict is someone who is addicted to illegal drugs.
drug|gie /drʌ gi/ (druggies ) also druggy N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a druggie you mean they are involved with or addicted to illegal drugs. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
drug|gist /drʌ g I st/ (druggists )
1 N‑COUNT A druggist is someone who is qualified to sell medicines and drugs ordered by a doctor. [AM ] in BRIT, usually use chemist 2 N‑COUNT A druggist or a druggist's is a store where medicines and drugs ordered by a doctor are sold. [AM ] in BRIT, usually use chemist
drug|store /drʌ gstɔː r / (drugstores ) N‑COUNT In the United States, a drugstore is a shop where drugs and medicines are sold or given out, and where you can buy cosmetics, some household goods, and also drinks and snacks.
Dru|id /druː I d/ (Druids ) also druid N‑COUNT A Druid is a priest of the Celtic religion.
drum ◆◇◇ /drʌ m/ (drums , drumming , drummed )
1 N‑COUNT A drum is a musical instrument consisting of a skin stretched tightly over a round frame. You play a drum by beating it with sticks or with your hands.
2 N‑COUNT A drum is a large cylindrical container which is used to store fuel or other substances. □ …an oil drum.
3 VERB If something drums on a surface, or if you drum something on a surface, it hits it regularly, making a continuous beating sound. □ [V n + on/against ] He drummed his fingers on the leather top of his desk. □ [V + on ] Rain drummed on the roof of the car.
4 → see also drumming
5 PHRASE If someone beats the drum or bangs the drum for something, they support it strongly.
▸ drum into PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If you drum something into someone, you keep saying it to them until they understand it or remember it. □ [be V -ed P n] Standard examples were drummed into students' heads. □ [V n P n that] They drummed it into her that she was not to tell anyone. [Also V P n that]
▸ drum out PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If someone is drummed out of an organization such as the armed forces or a club, they are forced to leave it, usually because they have done something wrong. □ [be V -ed P P n] Sailors caught in a drugs scandal are to be drummed out of the service.
▸ drum up PHRASAL VERB If you drum up support or business, you try to get it. □ [V P n] It is to be hoped that he is merely drumming up business.
drum|beat /drʌ mbiːt/ (drumbeats )
1 N‑COUNT A drumbeat is the sound of a beat on a drum.
2 N‑COUNT People sometimes describe a series of warnings or continuous pressure on someone to do something as a drumbeat . [mainly AM , JOURNALISM ]
dru m kit (drum kits ) N‑COUNT A drum kit is a set of drums and cymbals.
dru m ma |jor (drum majors )
1 N‑COUNT A drum major is an officer in the army who is in charge of the drummers in a military band, or who leads the band when they are marching. [BRIT ]