Library / English Dictionary

DROWSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A light fitful sleep

Synonyms:

doze; drowse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("drowse" is a kind of...):

sleeping (the suspension of consciousness and decrease in metabolic rate)

Derivation:

drowse (sleep lightly or for a short period of time)

drowse (be on the verge of sleeping)

drowsy (half asleep)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sleep lightly or for a short period of time

Synonyms:

doze; drowse; snooze

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "drowse" is one way to...):

catch a wink; catnap; nap (take a siesta)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

drowse (a light fitful sleep)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be on the verge of sleeping

Example:

The students were drowsing in the 8 AM class

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "drowse" is one way to...):

rest (be at rest)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "drowse"):

nod (be almost asleep)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Also:

drowse off (change from a waking to a sleeping state)

Derivation:

drowse (a light fitful sleep)

Credits