drowse Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a light fitful sleep
    doze.
  2. verb sleep lightly or for a short period of time
    snooze; doze.
  3. verb be on the verge of sleeping
    • The students were drowsing in the 8 AM class

WordNet

Drowse intransitive verb
Etymology
AS. drsian, drsan, to sink, become slow or inactive; cf. OD. droosen to be sleepy, fall asleep, LG. drsen, druusken, to slumber, fall down with a noise; prob, akin to AS. dreósan to fall. See Dreary.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Drowsed ; present participle & verbal noun Drowsing
Definitions
  1. To sleep imperfectly or unsoundly; to slumber; to be heavy with sleepiness; to doze. "He drowsed upon his couch." South.
    In the pool drowsed the cattle up to their knees. Lowell.
Drowse transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To make heavy with sleepiness or imperfect sleep; to make dull or stupid. Milton.
Drowse noun
Definitions
  1. A slight or imperfect sleep; a doze.
    But smiled on in a drowse of ecstasy. Mrs. Browning.

Webster 1913