rain
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).
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.
(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.
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.
to deal, hurl, fire, etc., repeatedly: to rain blows on someone's head.
rain out, to cause, by raining, the cancellation or postponement of a sports event, performance, or the like: The double-header was rained out yesterday.
Idioms about rain
rain cats and dogs, Informal. to rain very heavily or steadily: We canceled our picnic because it rained cats and dogs.
Origin of rain
1Other words for rain
Other words from rain
- rainless, adjective
- rain·less·ness, noun
Words that may be confused with rain
Words Nearby rain
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use rain in a sentence
Understandably, residents may be hoping for rain to douse—or at least slow down—the inferno.
California wildfires may give way to massive mudslides | Ula Chrobak | September 17, 2020 | Popular-ScienceHeaviest rain totals & greatest flooding potential will be Tuesday and Wednesday.
A nearly unprecedented cluster of tropical storms are brewing in the Atlantic | Sara Chodosh | September 15, 2020 | Popular-ScienceNorie QuintosThe dry season in central Guyana and on its savanna is October to March, with temperatures around 80 degrees, though the region does experience some rain in December.
He points to weeks of torrential rains and catastrophic flooding in China.
Jefferies strategist expects China to fulfill its U.S. trade deal commitments for an unexpected reason | Veta Chan | August 27, 2020 | FortuneFor forecasting further into the future, what the rain or winds were like many days ago becomes less and less relevant.
Improved three-week weather forecasts could save lives from disaster | Alexandra Witze | August 27, 2020 | Science News
“Firestorms Will rain on the Headquarters of War,” the title threatened.
Inside the ‘Surprisingly Great’ North Korean Hacker Hotel | Michael Daly | December 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBasosila Botala is wearing a blue rain jacket despite the sweltering heat.
Small rooms off its graffiti-covered foyer provide shelter from the thick rain that can unexpectedly, and vengefully, hit.
Alice wore a black nylon rain jacket that looked as if it was ill prepared to deal with the coming chill.
The Wildly Peaceful, Human, Almost Boring, Ultimately Great New York City Protests for Eric Garner | Mike Barnicle | December 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWe thought they would come last night, but we think there was too much rain.
In Jerusalem Home Demolitions, the Biblical Justice of Revenge | Creede Newton | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTShe set off down Trafalgar Road in the mist and the rain, glad that she had been compelled to walk.
Hilda Lessways | Arnold BennettThe riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall pass away with a noise like a great thunder in rain.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousAristide again sought the message of the stars; but the sky was clouded over, and soon a fine rain began to fall.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeI say, my good friend, I have come all the way back to ask you how you were able to say that it would certainly rain to-day?
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousNow this morning I saw it put down for to-day Very pleasant, and I knew for sartin it would rain before night.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | Various
British Dictionary definitions for rain
/ (reɪn) /
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): a raindrop Related adjectives: hyetal, pluvious
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 British informal perfectly all right; perfectly fit
(intr ; with it as subject) to be the case that rain is falling
(often with it 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 off cancelled or postponed on account of rain
Origin of rain
1- US and Canadian term: rained out
- See also rains
Derived forms of rain
- rainless, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for rain
[ rān ]
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with rain
In addition to the idioms beginning with rain
- rain cats and dogs
- rain check
- rain on one's parade
- rain or shine
- rain out
- rainy day, a
also see:
- come in out of the rain
- it never rains but it pours
- right as rain
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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