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yellow rain

American  

noun

  1. small, powdery yellow deposits containing the fungal toxin tricothecene, found on leaves and other surfaces in Southeast Asia and Afghanistan in the early 1980s and alleged by some to be a chemical weapon disseminated by air but claimed by others to be pollen-containing bee excrement contaminated by fungus.


yellow rain British  

noun

  1. a type of yellow precipitation described in parts of SE Asia and alleged by some to be evidence of chemical warfare using mycotoxins

"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

Etymology

Origin of yellow rain

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Eastern counties have a yellow wind warning, and a yellow rain warning is in place across Northern Ireland.

From BBC Oct. 3, 2025

Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland and north-west England also have a yellow rain warning in place.

From BBC Oct. 3, 2025

A yellow weather warning is also currently in place for South Wales, while further yellow rain warnings have been issued for Monday.

From BBC Sep. 29, 2024

The new warning is in place from 18:00 on Thursday until 06:00 on Friday, while existing yellow rain warnings remain in place for other parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

From BBC Sep. 26, 2024

He wears glasses, and when last seen was wearing a gray tweed sports coat, khaki pants, and a yellow rain slicker.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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