Repeated exercises or practice sessions to learn a skill, or rotating tools used to make holes in hard materials.
From Middle Dutch 'drillen' meaning 'to bore or drill.' Originally referred to the tool and action, but evolved to include the sense of repetitive practice training in the 1600s. Military and educational contexts popularized the practice meaning.
Spaced repetition drills literally rewire your brain—each time you repeat something, your neurons strengthen the connections, and your brain gets better at automating the skill. That's why musicians and athletes drill constantly rather than just playing casually.
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