rainbow Hear it!

rainbow Definition

rain·bow (rān′bō′)

noun

  1. 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
  2. a multicolored array or assortment
  3. a wide range or selection

Etymology: ME reinbowe < OE regnboga: see rain & bow

adjective

  1. of many colors
    1. of or involving the collaboration of members of diverse groups, esp. racial or minority groups a rainbow commission to study housing
    2. designating a political coalition of diverse racial or minority groups

rainbow Synonyms

rainbow

n.

iris, prism, colors; see spectrum.

rainbow Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • color: You can mix colors of Floam together to create a rainbow of colors.
  • color: A rainbow of colors across the horizon with a single star visible.

Converse of object

  • unweaving: The Keats who spoke of unweaving the rainbow was a young man.
  • chase: Or it is like chasing the rainbow: where does it start?
  • catch: John also caught 6 more Rainbows weighing between 2 and 4 pounds Generally the fishing has improved due to the weather turning cooler.
  • paint: In the afternoon the children painted rainbows in different shades of color and painted their cardboard dinosaurs.
  • see: She saw a rainbow & had a feeling of peace.
  • send: The rainbow belt sent a rainbow around the evil one, which made him disappear.

Adjective modifier

  • colorful: The result is a colorful rainbow of musical magic!
  • spectacular: At 1535 GMT there was a spectacular complete double rainbow spanning the Menai Strait between the bridges.
  • double: At 1535 GMT there was a spectacular complete double rainbow spanning the Menai Strait between the bridges.
  • beautiful: Beautiful rainbows over the sea adding even more to the views.
  • bright: As compensation for the mixed weather of the day there's a bright rainbow in the late afternoon.

Modifies a noun

  • trout: Chelsea Bell with the 8lb rainbow trout she caught on her first fishing trip.
  • flag: There, the group walked to the monument with their rainbow flags.
  • hue: There are flowers adding rainbow hues to the green backdrop.
  • jersey: First over the line was the rainbow jersey of the world champion, worn by the Spaniard Oscar Freire.
  • coalition: Pragna: The civil rights vision that inspires me is a rainbow coalition like Jesse Jackson's bringing together disparate sections of society.
  • stripe: Available only in the fabulous rainbow stripe pictured here.

Preposition: in

sky: I had just moved into my house and there were three rainbows in the sky again all at the same time.