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rain

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Rain is condensed moisture from the atmosphere that drops on the Earth as water.

(noun)

An example of rain is drops of water that fall from the sky.

See rain in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

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

Origin: 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

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

transitive verb

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

Related Forms:

rainless adjective

See rain in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. Water condensed from atmospheric vapor and falling in drops.
b. A fall of such water; a rainstorm.
c. The descent of such water.
d. Rainy weather.
e. rains A rainy season.
A heavy or abundant fall: a rain of fluffy cottonwood seeds; a rain of insults.

verb rained, rain·ing, rains

verb, intransitive

To fall in drops of water from the clouds.
To fall like rain: Praise rained down on the composer.
To release rain.

verb, transitive

To send or pour down.
To give abundantly; shower: rain gifts; rain curses upon their heads.

Phrasal Verb: rain out To force the cancellation or postponement of (an outdoor event) because of rain. Used in passive constructions: The ball game was rained out.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English regn, rēn

Related Forms: