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rain
[ reyn ]
noun
- water that is condensed from the aqueous vapor in the atmosphere and falls to earth in drops more than 0.02 inch (0.5 millimeters) in diameter. Compare drizzle ( def 6 ).
We had a light rain this afternoon.
- rains, the rainy season; seasonal rainfall, as in India.
- weather marked by steady or frequent rainfall:
We had rain most of last summer.
- a heavy and continuous descent or inflicting of anything:
a rain of blows; a rain of vituperation.
verb (used without object)
- (of rain) to fall (usually used impersonally with it as subject):
It rained all night.
- to fall like rain:
Tears rained from their eyes.
- to send down rain:
The lightning flashed and the sky rained on us in torrents.
verb (used with object)
- to send down in great quantities, as small pieces or objects:
People on rooftops rained confetti on the parade.
- to offer, bestow, or give in great quantity:
to rain favors upon a person.
Synonyms: , ,
- to deal, hurl, fire, etc., repeatedly:
to rain blows on someone's head.
verb phrase
- to cause, by raining, the cancellation or postponement of a sports event, performance, or the like:
The double-header was rained out yesterday.
rain
/ ɪ /
noun
- precipitation from clouds in the form of drops of water, formed by the condensation of water vapour in the atmosphere
- a fall of rain; shower
- ( in combination ) hyetalpluvious
a raindrop
- a large quantity of anything falling rapidly or in quick succession
a rain of abuse
- rain or shine or come rain or shine
- regardless of the weather
- regardless of circumstances
- right as rain informal.perfectly all right; perfectly fit
verb
- intr; with it as subject to be the case that rain is falling
- often withit as subject to fall or cause to fall like rain
the lid flew off and popcorn rained on everyone
- tr to bestow in large measure
to rain abuse on someone
- rain cats and dogs informal.to rain heavily; pour
- rained offcancelled or postponed on account of rain
rain
/ /
- Water that condenses from water vapor in the atmosphere and falls to Earth as separate drops from clouds. Rain forms primarily in three ways: at weather fronts, when the water vapor in the warmer mass of air cools and condenses; along mountain ranges, when a warm mass of air is forced to rise over a mountain and its water vapor cools and condenses; and by convection in hot climates, when the water vapor in suddenly rising masses of warm air cools and condenses.
- See also hydrologic cycle
Derived Forms
- ˈԱ, adjective
Other 51Թ Forms
- l adjective
- l·ness noun
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of rain1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of rain1
Idioms and Phrases
- rain cats and dogs, Informal. to rain very heavily or steadily:
We canceled our picnic because it rained cats and dogs.
More idioms and phrases containing rain
- come in out of the rain
- it never rains but it pours
- right as rain
Example Sentences
“Through the next 10 days or so there’s no specific chance for rain,” Schoenfeld said.
The heavy rains of the last few winters helped nurture scattered wildflower seeds, creating a dazzling burst of flowers in the spring that attracts butterflies and bees to the vivid petals.
Parts of south-west England and Wales could see some rain on Friday morning, but this is expected to dissipate by mid-morning.
This year’s storms have brought ample rains at lower elevations, and statewide precipitation since Oct.
Even with the severe storms that battered a few parts of England with intense rain, hail and thunder on Saturday 22 March, many places avoided the heavy downpours.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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