dribble

verb

1. In various ball games, to move (with) the ball, controlling its path by kicking or bouncing it repeatedly.
2. To let saliva drip from the mouth; to drool.

   “The baby dribbled onto its bib.”

3. (intransitive)To fall in drops or an unsteady stream; to trickle.
4. (figuratively, intransitive)To move or roll slowly or in small quantities.

   “The last formal word of compliment was spoken and the audience dribbled away with a sense of having performed a duty only slightly less meritorious than that of going to church.”

   “Denny slid over a couple of steps and swung feebly at it. The ball hit the wooden frame of his racket and dribbled into the net.”

   “Derrick's hand passed along the plate while the catcher flipped and fell on his back in a huge cloud of dust. The ball went dribbling toward the backstop.”

   “After two minutes and 25 seconds, he scored with a pea-roller that totally foxed Stoke keeper Dennis Herod and dribbled in off a post.”

5. (transitive)To let something fall in drips.

   “let her [the cook] follow him softly with a ladle full, and dribble it all the way up stairs to the dining-room”

6. (dated)To live or pass one's time in a trivial fashion.
7. To perform a card flourish in which the cards fall smoothly from one's hand.

noun

1. (uncountable)Drool; saliva.
2. (colloquial, uncountable)Rubbish; worthless matter.

   “Your pieces are amateur at best—at worst they are a commercial hoax—something you’d find at Kmart for the kids to take back to their dorms. Frankly, I’m shocked you would waste my time with this dribble. You are no artist, my dear.”

   ““Are these mangers also called ‘Labor Camps’? Those baby production lines Hitler set up to produce a race of pure bloods.” / “No,” said Ute, openly irritated at the remark. She looked over at Captain Browder, saying with her eyes, “Do we have to keep on with this dribble?” / Browder broke in, “Trank, let’s cut out this insignificant ramble. Let’s go straight to the subject of mangers where girls can give birth in secret.””

   “I’ve returned everything that I borrowed and then some, but it never sat well with her father and he disowned her right along with me. Michael, did you know that I’m low life scum? Well, that’s what he called me the last time we were together. I apologize, I should never have bothered you with this dribble.”

3. (countable)A weak, unsteady stream; a trickle.
4. (countable)A small amount of a liquid.
5. (countable)The act of moving (with) a ball by kicking or bouncing it.
6. (countable)A card flourish in which the cards fall smoothly from one's hand.