rain

[ reyn ]

noun

1. 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 ).
2. a rainfall, rainstorm, or shower:

   We had a light rain this afternoon.

3. rains, the rainy season; seasonal rainfall, as in India.
4. weather marked by steady or frequent rainfall:

   We had rain most of last summer.

5. a heavy and continuous descent or inflicting of anything:

   a rain of blows; a rain of vituperation.

verb (used without object)

1. (of rain) to fall (usually used impersonally with it as subject):

   It rained all night.

2. to fall like rain:

   Tears rained from their eyes.

3. to send down rain:

   The lightning flashed and the sky rained on us in torrents.

verb (used with object)

1. to send down in great quantities, as small pieces or objects:

   People on rooftops rained confetti on the parade.

2. to offer, bestow, or give in great quantity:

   to rain favors upon a person.

   Synonyms: pour, shower, lavish

3. to deal, hurl, fire, etc., repeatedly:

   to rain blows on someone's head.

verb phrase

1. to cause, by raining, the cancellation or postponement of a sports event, performance, or the like:

   The double-header was rained out yesterday.

rain

/ reɪn /

noun

1. 1. precipitation from clouds in the form of drops of water, formed by the condensation of water vapour in the atmosphere
   2. a fall of rain; shower
   3. ( in combination ) hyetalpluvious

      a raindrop

2. a large quantity of anything falling rapidly or in quick succession

   a rain of abuse

3. rain or shine
   rain or shinecome rain or shine
   1. regardless of the weather
   2. regardless of circumstances
4. right as rain informal.
   right as rain perfectly all right; perfectly fit

verb

1. intr; with it as subject to be the case that rain is falling
2. often withit as subject to fall or cause to fall like rain

   the lid flew off and popcorn rained on everyone

3. tr to bestow in large measure

   to rain abuse on someone

4. rain cats and dogs informal.
   rain cats and dogs to rain heavily; pour
5. rained off
   rained off cancelled or postponed on account of rain

rain

/ rān /

1. 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.
2. See also hydrologic cycle

Derived Forms

• ˈrainless, adjective

Other Words From

• rainless adjective
• rainless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rain¹

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English rein; Old English regn, rēn, cognate with Dutch, German regen, Old Norse regn, Gothic rign; (verb) Middle English reinen, Old English regnian

Word History and Origins

Origin of rain¹

Old English regn ; related to Old Frisian rein , Old High German regan , Gothic rign

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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

Understandably, residents may be hoping for rain to douse—or at least slow down—the inferno.

From Popular-Science

Heaviest rain totals & greatest flooding potential will be Tuesday and Wednesday.

From Popular-Science

Norie 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.

From Outside Online

He points to weeks of torrential rains and catastrophic flooding in China.

From Fortune

For forecasting further into the future, what the rain or winds were like many days ago becomes less and less relevant.

From Science News

“Firestorms Will Rain on the Headquarters of War,” the title threatened.

From The Daily Beast

Basosila Botala is wearing a blue rain jacket despite the sweltering heat.

From The Daily Beast

Small rooms off its graffiti-covered foyer provide shelter from the thick rain that can unexpectedly, and vengefully, hit.

From The Daily Beast

Alice wore a black nylon rain jacket that looked as if it was ill prepared to deal with the coming chill.

From The Daily Beast

We thought they would come last night, but we think there was too much rain.

From The Daily Beast

She set off down Trafalgar Road in the mist and the rain, glad that she had been compelled to walk.

From Project Gutenberg

The riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall pass away with a noise like a great thunder in rain.

From Project Gutenberg

Aristide again sought the message of the stars; but the sky was clouded over, and soon a fine rain began to fall.

From Project Gutenberg

I 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?

From Project Gutenberg

Now this morning I saw it put down for to-day Very pleasant, and I knew for sartin it would rain before night.

From Project Gutenberg