noun
Uncommon
trickle
TRIH-kuhl
Trickle (noun) means a thin, slow flow of liquid, or the small amount that flows this way. Example: “Just a trickle of water came from the tap.”
noun
1
A thin, slow flow of liquid, or the small amount that flows this way.
"Just a trickle of water came from the tap."
"A trickle of blood ran down his arm."
verb
1
To flow slowly in a thin stream, drop by drop.
"Sweat trickled down her back in the heat."
"Rain trickled through a crack in the roof."
2
To arrive or happen gradually, in small numbers over time.
"Guests began to trickle into the hall around six."
How to use trickle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA slow, thin flow — of liquid, or of anything (like news or visitors) arriving bit by bit.
Common pairings
a trickle of water
trickle down
trickle in
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Word forms
- Plural
- trickles
- Third person singular
- trickles
- Past tense
- trickled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Just a _____ of water came from the tap.
Etymology
From Middle English triklen, which grew out of an older word striklen ("to trickle") after speakers misheard where one word ended and the next began — the same kind of slip that gave us "an apron" from "a napron."
Related words
Rhymes for trickle
See all rhymes for trickle →Frequently asked questions
What does “trickle” mean?
The word “trickle” means a thin, slow flow of liquid, or the small amount that flows this way. In plain terms, a slow, thin flow — of liquid, or of anything (like news or visitors) arriving bit by bit.
How do you pronounce “trickle”?
“Trickle” is pronounced TRIH-kuhl (/ˈtɹɪkəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “trickle” in a sentence?
Here is “trickle” used in a sentence: “Just a trickle of water came from the tap.”
What part of speech is “trickle”?
Depending on how it is used, “trickle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “trickle” come from?
The word “trickle” comes from Middle English. From Middle English triklen, which grew out of an older word striklen ("to trickle") after speakers misheard where one word ended and the next began — the same kind of slip that gave us "an apron" from "a napron.".
Is “trickle” a common word?
“Trickle” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “trickle” have?
“Trickle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin, slow flow of liquid, or the small amount that flows this way.
