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rain Definition

rain (rān)

noun

  1. water falling to earth in drops larger than 0.5 mm (0.02 in) that have been condensed from the moisture in the atmosphere
  2. the falling of such drops; shower or rainstorm
    1. rainy weather
    2. seasonal rainfalls; the rainy season: preceded by the
  4. a rapid falling or propulsion of many small particles or objects a rain of ashes

Etymology: ME rein < OE regn, akin to Ger regen < IE base *re-, var. of *reĝ-, moist, wet > L rigare, to wet, moisten: see irrigate

intransitive verb

  1. to fall: said of rain, and usually in an impersonal construction it is raining
  2. to fall like rain bullets rained about him
  3. to cause rain to fall: said of the heavens, clouds, etc.

transitive verb

  1. to pour down (rain or something likened to rain)
  2. to give in large quantities to rain praises on someone

rain Related Forms

rain′·less adjective

rain Idioms

rain cats and dogs

Informal to rain heavily

rain out

☆

to cause (an event) to be postponed or canceled because of rain

rain Synonyms

rain

n.

  1. Water falling in drops

    drizzle, mist, sprinkle, sprinkling, rainfall, shower, precipitation, wet weather, downpour, torrent, pouring rain, driving rain, damp day, spring rain, cat-and-dog weather*, liquid sunshine*, mizzle*, Scotch mist*.

  2. A rainstorm

    thunderstorm, thundershower, tempest, cloudburst; see storm 1.

rain Synonyms

rain

v.

pour, drizzle, drop, fall, shower, sprinkle, precipitate, mist, mizzle*, come down*, teem*, spit*, set in*, lay the dust, patter*, rain cats and dogs*, come down in buckets*, rain pitchforks*; see also storm.

rain Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • pour: A dip in a river or a walk in the pouring rain will do wonders for a Gordon coat.
  • drizzle: From here it was a short walk through lightly drizzling rain to the office block in which he worked.
  • drench: We then ran from the van onto the stage to be greeted by thousands of rain drenched fans.

Preposition: at

GMT: The afternoon was mainly sunny to but there was a shower of rain at 1830 GMT.

Adjective modifier

  • torrential: On the evening of Sunday 2nd July, heavy thunderstorms brought torrential rain to this area of the Pennines.
  • heavy: Heavy rain can make a pond quickly overflow or be flooded out.
  • acid: Why is acid rain doing such a lot of damage in eastern Canada?
  • intermittent: From 16 - 23 GMT there was intermittent light rain.
  • overnight: The Sunday started out clear and dry after overnight rain.
  • incessant: In October 1998 building work got under way but was halted in December after weeks of incessant rain.

Modifies a noun

  • forest: Half of all invertebrate species live in tropical rain forests, less than 7 % of the world's surface.
  • shower: Any rain showers should be confined to the north during the morning.
  • gage: Question 1. When making a rain gage where should you place it?
  • cloud: Unless of course your little rain cloud follows you and things are just bad wherever you are.
  • storm: It was really hot, but then they had rain storms in the afternoons but they were pretty wicked as well to be honest.
  • penetration: These are designed to permit the natural ventilation of buildings where rain penetration during extreme conditions is not detrimental.

Noun used with modifier

  • monsoon: During the period June to September there is a light monsoon rain in Salalah.
  • freezing: Our car was waiting at reception to be collected - no traipsing around a dark, pot-holed site in the freezing rain.

Preposition: until

GMT: The day remained overcast, and sunless, with drizzle from noon turning to light rain until 17 GMT.

Preposition: from

GMT: After a lull there was further moderate to heavy rain from 03 GMT.