Rainbow Definition

rānbō
rainbows
noun
An arc or ring containing the colors of the spectrum in consecutive bands, formed in the sky by the refraction, reflection, and dispersion of light in rain or fog.
Webster's New World
A similar arc or band, as one produced by a prism or by iridescence.
American Heritage
A wide range or selection.
Webster's New World
A graded display of colors.
American Heritage
A multicolored array or assortment.
Webster's New World
adjective
Of many colors.
Webster's New World
Of or involving the collaboration of members of diverse groups, esp. racial or minority groups.
A rainbow commission to study housing.
Webster's New World
Designating a political coalition of diverse racial or minority groups.
Webster's New World
Wiktionary
(chiefly US) Made up of several races or ethnicities, or (more broadly) of several cultural or ideological factions.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
verb
To pattern with many colours, like a rainbow.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Rainbow

Noun

Singular:
rainbow
Plural:
rainbows

Origin of Rainbow

  • From Middle English reinbowe, reinboȝe, from Old English reÄ¡nboga (“rainbow"), from Proto-Germanic *regnabugô (“rainbow"), equivalent to rain +"Ž bow (“arch"). Cognate with West Frisian reinbôge (“rainbow"), Dutch regenboog (“rainbow"), German Regenbogen (“rainbow"), Danish regnbue (“rainbow"), Swedish regnbÃ¥ge (“rainbow"), Icelandic regnbogi (“rainbow").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old English rēnboga rēn rain boga bow bow3

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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