DROWSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does drowse mean? 

• DROWSE (noun)
  The noun DROWSE has 1 sense:

1. a light fitful sleep

  Familiarity information: DROWSE used as a noun is very rare.

• DROWSE (verb)
  The verb DROWSE has 2 senses:

1. sleep lightly or for a short period of time

2. be on the verge of sleeping

  Familiarity information: DROWSE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DROWSE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A light fitful sleep

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

doze; drowse

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)

• DROWSE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they drowse    ... he / she / it drowses   
Past simple: drowsed   
Past participle: drowsed   
-ing form: drowsing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sleep lightly or for a short period of time

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

doze; drowse; snooze

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

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Context example:

The students were drowsing in the 8 AM class

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)

 Context examples 

There he drowsed, only half asleep, his ears keyed for the first sound of the familiar step.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I sat in the sun on a bench; the animal within me licking the chops of memory; the spiritual side a little drowsed, promising subsequent penitence, but not yet moved to begin.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

“Oh, nothing,” he added softly, as if he were drowsing; “only you’ve got me where you want me.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I think I drowse myself, for all of sudden I feel guilt, as though I have done something; I find myself bolt up, with the reins in my hand, and the good horses go along jog, jog, just as ever.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

This passed away as the puppies' antics and mauling continued, and he lay with half-shut patient eyes, drowsing in the sun.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Through this twilight universe Daisy began to move again with the season; suddenly she was again keeping half a dozen dates a day with half a dozen men and drowsing asleep at dawn with the beads and chiffon of an evening dress tangled among dying orchids on the floor beside her bed.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)