rain definition - Dictionary

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rain

rain [ rayn ]

noun (plural rains)

Definition:

1. water falling from clouds: water condensed from vapor in the atmosphere and falling in drops from clouds

2. period of wet weather: any storm, shower, or other quantity of water falling from the sky

3. rainy weather: weather marked by heavy or persistent rainfall

4. great number or flow: a great number of small individual things coming in a steady flow or anything else flowing or falling like rain

A rain of dust fell from the crumbling ceiling.

plural noun rains

Definition:

rainy season: in some countries, a season of the year when a lot of rain falls

verb (past and past participle rained, present participle rain·ing, 3rd person present singular rains)

Definition:

1. intransitive verb drop rain: to fall from the sky or release water in the form of rain

It's raining again.

2. transitive and intransitive verb come in great number: to come or fall in the form of a great number of units arriving separately but in very quick succession or in a continuous stream, or drop or deliver something in this way

Missiles rained down on us from the defenders on the battlements.

Reporters rained questions on the beleaguered police chief.

3. transitive verb give something generously: to give somebody something in large quantities, continuously, and over a considerable period of time

Generous to a fault, they positively rained gifts on all their friends.

[ Old English regn, rēn< Germanic]

rain·less adjective

(as) right as rain perfectly all right (informal)

(come) rain or shine whatever the weather or the circumstances

The picnic will be held, rain or shine.

Spelling Note


	rain, reign, or rein? Do not confuse the spelling of rain, reign, and rein, which sound similar. Rain refers to water falling from the sky: The crops need rain.It rained all afternoon.Reign refers to the rule of a monarch, or to the dominant factor in a situation: The castle was built during the reign of King Henry VIII.Confusion reigned in the town.Rein refers to a strap for controlling a horse, or to any other similar means of restraint: He pulled on the reins to stop the horse. They kept a tight rein on expenditures.She reined back her mount.