rock-drill

A worker uses a rock-drill to bore into a stone surface.

Definition

Noun: A rock-drill is a tool or machine used for drilling into rock, typically for mining, construction, or geological exploration. It operates by using a rotating or percussive mechanism to break through hard surfaces.

Usage Examples

• (A machine for drilling into rock.)
• (A tool for extracting rock cores.)

Advanced Usage

• "Pneumatic rock-drill": a type of rock-drill powered by compressed air, often used in mining.

  • The miners relied on a pneumatic rock-drill to break through the granite layer. (An air-powered drilling machine.)

• "Hydraulic rock-drill": a rock-drill that uses hydraulic fluid pressure for greater force.

  • The hydraulic rock-drill was essential for tunneling through hard basalt. (A fluid-powered drilling tool.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rock-drilling (n): the action or process of using a rock-drill.

  • Rock-drilling requires specialized safety equipment. (The activity of drilling into rock.)

• Drill (n): a broader term for any tool that makes holes; a rock-drill is a specific subtype.

  • The electric drill is for wood, but the rock-drill is for stone. (General vs. specific drilling tools.)

Synonyms

• Jackhammer: a handheld percussive tool for breaking up pavement or rock, similar in function to a rock-drill.
• Pneumatic drill: a drill powered by air, often synonymous with rock-drill in construction contexts.

Related Idioms