rain

[ reyn ]

/ reɪn /

noun

water that is condensed from the aqueous vapor in the atmosphere and falls to earth in drops more than 1/50 inch (0.5 mm) in diameter.Compare drizzle(def 6).

a rainfall, rainstorm, or shower: 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.

to deal, hurl, fire, etc., repeatedly: to rain blows on someone's head.

Verb Phrases

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.

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salute

to call out to in order to stop, attract attention, ask aid, etc.

to wield power; exercise rule.

to express respect or praise for; honor; commend.

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Idioms for 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

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

SYNONYMS FOR rain

10 lavish, shower, pour.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR rain ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM rain

rain·less, adjectiverain·less·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rain

rain reign rein

Words nearby rain

railroading, railway, railwayman, raiment, raimondi, rain, rain cats and dogs, rain check, rain cloud, rain dance, rain date

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for raining

Soon after we've begun working, Hitchcock announces he isn't coming to the office because it is raining.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Outside, in the heart of progressive Austin, it was raining cats and dogs.
In Texas, Cruz, Perry Crow Over GOP Rout|Tim Mak|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But then Marino checked the weather, and saw that it would be raining all afternoon.
‘Marry Me’ Proves Ken Marino Is More Than Just an Asshole|Kevin Fallon|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was sunny, it was cloudy, it was raining, it was completely covered in snow, and then by the end of the day it was gone.
‘Sharknado 2’ in Winter: Has the Franchise Jumped the Shark?|Jason Lynch|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It had been raining, and when they arrived, the ground where he had walked was slick.
Doug Kenney: The Odd Comic Genius Behind ‘Animal House’ and National Lampoon|Robert Sam Anson|March 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"It is raining heavily now," said Ruth, throwing a log upon the fire.
Other Things Being Equal|Emma Wolf
It kept on raining very hard, and there were occasional lightning flashes and crashes of thunder.
Baartock|Lewis Roth
They walked in silence, and with bare heads, although it was raining; Selva as the others.
The Saint|Antonio Fogazzaro
When it was cold and raining they would shuck corn to send to mill.
Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume II, Arkansas Narratives, Part 2|Work Projects Administration
It was raining hard, and he disappeared into the darkness, shutting the door behind him.
Whosoever Shall Offend|F. Marion Crawford

British Dictionary definitions for raining

rain

/ (reɪn) /

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)a raindrop Related adjectives: hyetal, pluvious

a large quantity of anything falling rapidly or in quick successiona 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

verb

(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 rainthe lid flew off and popcorn rained on everyone

(tr) to bestow in large measureto rain abuse on someone

rain cats and dogs informal to rain heavily; pour

rained off cancelled or postponed on account of rain

US and Canadian term: rained out

Derived forms of rain

rainless, adjective

Word Origin for rain

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

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 raining

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.

Idioms and Phrases with raining

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

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rain