16 results for: drain Browse Nearby Entries
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
drain    Audio Help   [dreyn] Pronunciation Key
–verb (used with object)
1.to withdraw or draw off (a liquid) gradually; remove slowly or by degrees, as by filtration: to drain oil from a crankcase.
2.to withdraw liquid gradually from; make empty or dry by drawing off liquid: to drain a crankcase.
3.to exhaust the resources of: to drain the treasury.
4.to deprive of strength; tire.
–verb (used without object)
5.to flow off gradually.
6.to become empty or dry by the gradual flowing off of liquid or moisture: This land drains into the Mississippi.
–noun
7.something, as a pipe or conduit, by which a liquid drains.
8.Surgery. a material or appliance for maintaining the opening of a wound to permit free exit of fluids.
9.gradual or continuous outflow, withdrawal, or expenditure.
10.something that causes a large or continuous outflow, expenditure, or depletion: Medical expenses were a major drain on his bank account.
11.an act of draining.
12.Physical Geography.
a.an artificial watercourse, as a ditch or trench.
b.a natural watercourse modified to increase its flow of water.
13.go down the drain,
a.to become worthless or profitless.
b.to go out of existence; disappear.

[Origin: bef. 1000; ME dreynen, OE dréhnian, dréahnian to strain, filter; akin to dry]

drain·a·ble, adjective
drainer, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
drain

To learn more about drain visit Britannica.com

© 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
drain    Audio Help   (drān)  Pronunciation Key 
v.   drained, drain·ing, drains

v.   tr.
  1. To draw off (a liquid) by a gradual process: drained water from the sink.
    1. To cause liquid to go out from; empty: drained the bathtub; drain the pond.
    2. To draw off the surface water of: The Mississippi River drains a vast area.
    3. To deplete gradually, especially to the point of complete exhaustion. See Synonyms at deplete.
    4. To fatigue or spend emotionally or physically: The day's events completely drained me of all strength.
  2. To drink all the contents of: drained the cup.
    1. To deplete gradually, especially to the point of complete exhaustion. See Synonyms at deplete.
    2. To fatigue or spend emotionally or physically: The day's events completely drained me of all strength.

v.   intr.
  1. To flow off or out: Gasoline drained slowly from the tilted can.
  2. To become empty by the drawing off of liquid: watched the tub slowly drain.
  3. To discharge surface or excess water: The Niagara River drains into Lake Ontario. When flooded, the swamp drains northward.
  4. To become gradually depleted; dwindle: felt his enthusiasm draining.

n.  
  1. A pipe or channel by which liquid is drawn off.
  2. Medicine A device, such as a tube, inserted into the opening of a wound or body cavity to facilitate discharge of fluid or purulent material.
  3. The act or process of draining.
    1. A gradual outflow or loss; consumption or depletion: the drain of young talent by emigration.
    2. Something that causes a gradual loss: interruptions that are a drain on my patience.


[Middle English dreinen, to strain, drain, from Old English drēahnian.]

drain'a·ble adj., drain'er n.
(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
drain  (v.)
O.E. dreahnian, from P.Gmc. *draug-, source of "drought, dry," giving the Eng. word originally a sense of "make dry." Figurative meaning of "exhaust" is attested from 1660. The noun is from 1552.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
drain

noun
1. emptying something accomplished by allowing liquid to run out of it 
2. tube inserted into a body cavity (as during surgery) to remove unwanted material 
3. a pipe through which liquid is carried away 
4. a gradual depletion of energy or resources; "a drain on resources"; "a drain of young talent by emigration" 

verb
1. flow off gradually; "The rain water drains into this big vat" 
2. deplete of resources; "The exercise class drains me of energy" 
3. empty of liquid; drain the liquid from; "We drained the oil tank" 
4. make weak; "Life in the camp drained him" [syn: enfeeble

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
drain1 [drein] verb
to clear (land) of water by the use of ditches and pipes
Example: There are plans to drain the marsh.
Arabic: يُصَرِّف المِياه، يُجَفِّف
Chinese (Simplified): 排去(水等液体)
Chinese (Traditional): 排去(水等液體)
Czech: odvodnit
Danish: dræne; tørlægge
Dutch: droogleggen
Estonian: kuivendama
Finnish: kuivattaa
French: drainer
German: entwässern
Greek: αποστραγγίζω
Hungarian: lecsapol, csatornáz
Icelandic: þurrka upp, ræsa fram
Indonesian: mengeringkan
Italian: prosciugare
Japanese: 排水する
Korean: 물을 빼다, 배수시키다
Latvian: drenēt, nosusināt
Lithuanian: (nu)sausinti, drenuoti
Norwegian: drenere, lede bort vannet
Polish: drenować, osuszyć
Portuguese (Brazil): drenar
Portuguese (Portugal): drenar
Romanian: a drena, a seca
Russian: осушать
Slovak: odvodniť
Slovenian: izsušiti
Spanish: vaciar, drenar
Swedish: torrlägga, dränera, täckdika
Turkish: suyunu çekerek kurutmak
drain2 [drein] verb
(of water) to run away
Example: The water drained away/off into the ditch.
Arabic: يَنْصَرِف، يَجْري، يَسيلُ تَدريجيا
Chinese (Simplified): 流走,漏掉
Chinese (Traditional): 流走,漏掉
Czech: odtékat
Danish: løbe væk
Dutch: weglopen
Estonian: ära voolama
Finnish: valua pois
French: s'écouler
German: abfließen
Greek: χύνομαι
Hungarian: elfolyik
Icelandic: renna af, *í burtu
Indonesian: mengalir
Italian: defluire, scorrere
Japanese: はける
Korean: 물이 빠지다, 흘러나가다
Latvian: notecēt; aizplūst
Lithuanian: nutekėti
Norwegian: renne bort, dreneres
Polish: odpływać
Portuguese (Brazil): escoar(-se)
Portuguese (Portugal): escoar-se
Romanian: a se scurge
Russian: стекать
Slovak: odtekať
Slovenian: odtekati
Spanish: escurrirse
Swedish: rinna av (bort)
Turkish: akmak, boşalmak
drain3 [drein] verb
to pour off the water etc from or allow the water etc to run off from
Example: Would you drain the vegetables?; He drained the petrol tank; The blood drained from her face.
Arabic: يُجَفِّفُ
Chinese (Simplified): (水等)流掉
Chinese (Traditional): (水等)流掉
Czech: (od)kapat; vyprázdnit
Danish: dryppe af; tømme; forsvinde
Dutch: lozen, laten weglopen
Estonian: nõrutama, tühjendama, ära voolama
Finnish: valuttaa, valua
French: égoutter
German: (ab)tropfen
Greek: στραγγίζω, σουρώνω
Hungarian: kiürít; leönt (vizet); lefut (vér arcából)
Icelandic: láta renna af
Indonesian: mengeringkan
Italian: scolare; sgorgare
Japanese: 水をきる
Korean: (물을) 쏟아버리다, 물이 빠져나가게 하다
Latvian: nosusināt; notecināt; tecēt
Lithuanian: nusunkti, išleisti (skystį), nutekėti
Norwegian: tømme av, *ut, la renne av
Polish: osączyć, opróżnić, odpłynąć
Portuguese (Brazil): escoar, escorrer
Portuguese (Portugal): escoar
Romanian: a drena; a (se) scurge; a (se) zvânta
Russian: сушить; откачивать;отливать
Slovak: odkvapkať; odtiecť
Slovenian: (od)cediti (se)
Spanish: escurrir
Swedish: skölja, tömma, försvinna
Turkish: suyunu çekmek
drain4 [drein] verb
to drink everything contained in
Example: He drained his glass.
Arabic: يَشْرَبُ كل ما في الكأس
Chinese (Simplified): 喝干
Chinese (Traditional): 喝幹
Czech: vypít
Danish: tømme
Dutch: leegdrinken
Estonian: põhjani jooma
Finnish: tyhjentää
French: vider
German: leeren
Greek: πίνω μέχρι τέλους
Hungarian: kiürít
Icelandic: þurrausa, tæma
Indonesian: meminum semua
Italian: scolarsi, bersi
Japanese: 飲み干す
Korean: (잔을 깨끗이) 비우다, 다 마시다
Latvian: iztukšot
Lithuanian: išgerti iki dugno
Norwegian: tømme
Polish: wypić do dna
Portuguese (Brazil): esvaziar
Portuguese (Portugal): esvaziar
Romanian: a goli
Russian: выпивать до дна
Slovak: vypiť
Slovenian: izprazniti
Spanish: apurar, vaciar
Swedish: tömma, dricka ur
Turkish: son damlasına kadar içmek
drain5 [drein] verb
to use up completely (the money, strength etc of)
Example: The effort drained all his energy.
Arabic: يَسْتَنْفِذُ، يَسْتهْلِكُ كل ما لَدَيْهِ
Chinese (Simplified): 耗尽
Chinese (Traditional): 耗盡
Czech: vyčerpat
Danish: tære på; dræne
Dutch: opgebruiken
Estonian: tühjaks imema
Finnish: imeä tyhjiin
French: épuiser
German: aufbrauchen
Greek: εξαντλώ
Hungarian: kiszipolyoz, kiszív (erőt)
Icelandic: þurrausa; gera örmagna
Indonesian: menghabiskan
Italian: prosciugare
Japanese: 使い尽くす
Korean: 다 써버리다
Latvian: izsūkt (spēkus u.tml.)
Lithuanian: iščiulpti, išsiurbti, išeikvoti
Norwegian: tappe, drenere
Polish: wyczerpać, zużyć
Portuguese (Brazil): esgotar
Portuguese (Portugal): esgotar
Romanian: a epuiza
Russian: опустошать
Slovak: vyčerpať
Slovenian: izčrpati
Spanish: agotar
Swedish: tömma, göra tom på
Turkish: tüketmek, bitirmek
drain1 [drein] noun
something (a ditch, trench, waterpipe etc) designed to carry away water
Example: The heavy rain has caused several drains to overflow.
Arabic: مَصْرَف ماء، قَناة
Chinese (Simplified): 排水沟(管)
Chinese (Traditional): 排水溝(管)
Czech: kanál, stoka
Danish: afløb; kloakledning
Dutch: afvoer
Estonian: kuivenduskraav, äravoolutoru
Finnish: viemäri
French: canal, *tuyau d'écoulement
German: der Abfluß
Hungarian: vízlevezető cső, csatorna
Icelandic: ræsi, framræsluskurður
Indonesian: saluran
Italian: tubo di deflusso, *scarico
Japanese: 排水路
Korean: 배수로
Latvian: drena; novadcaurule; noteka
Lithuanian: drenažas, vandens nuotakas
Norwegian: avløp(srør), kloakkledning
Polish: dren, rów odwadniający
Portuguese (Brazil): canal de escoamento
Portuguese (Portugal): escoadouro
Romanian: canal, *ţeavă de scurgere
Russian: водосток; водоотвод
Slovak: stoka, kanál
Slovenian: odvodni kanal
Spanish: desaguadero
Swedish: dränering, avlopp
Turkish: su yolu, hendek
drain2 [drein] noun
something which slowly exhausts a supply, especially of one's money or strength
Example: His car is a constant drain on his money.
Arabic: سبب اسْتِنْزاف أو اسْتِهْلاك
Chinese (Simplified): (财富等)逐渐流光
Chinese (Traditional): (財富等)逐漸流光
Czech: odliv, odčerpávání
Danish: dræn
Dutch: druk, belasting
Estonian: kurnaja
Finnish: rasitus
French: saignée, hémorragie
German: die Beanspruchung, die Belastung
Hungarian: "adó"
Icelandic: e-ð sem hægt og hægt gengur á fjármagn eða krafta
Indonesian: yang memboroskan
Italian: salasso
Japanese: 枯渇のもと
Korean: 지출의 요인
Latvian: (spēku, naudas) tērētājs; izsūcējs
Lithuanian: eikvotojas, alintojas
Norwegian: (av)tapping, (ut)tømming
Polish: pijawka, studnia bez dna
Portuguese (Brazil): escoadouro
Portuguese (Portugal): sorvedouro
Romanian: risipă, cheltuială
Russian: источник расходов
Slovak: odliv, odčerpávanie
Slovenian: sod brez dna
Spanish: desgaste, sangría
Swedish: ngt som tär på kassan (krafterna, resurserna), avtappning
Turkish: masraf, yük
See also: down the drain, drainage, draining-board, drainpipe

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd.
Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

drain jargon
(IBM) To allow a system to complete the processing of its current work before the system becomes unavailable. E.g. draining a device before taking it off-line or telling a web server in a server farm not to accept any new requests but to finish processing any requests it has already accepted.
[The Jargon File]
(2005-07-18)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Drain, OR (city, FIPS 20500) Location: 43.66211 N, 123.31407 W
Population (1990): 1011 (391 housing units)
Area: 1.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 97435

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Drain

Drain\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Drained; p. pr. & vb. n. Draining.] [AS. drehnigean to drain, strain; perh. akin to E. draw.]

1. To draw off by degrees; to cause to flow gradually out or off; hence, to cause the exhaustion of.

Fountains drain the water from the ground adjacent. --Bacon.

But it was not alone that the he drained their treasure and hampered their industry. --Motley.

2. To exhaust of liquid contents by drawing them off; to make gradually dry or empty; to remove surface water, as from streets, by gutters, etc.; to deprive of moisture; hence, to exhaust; to empty of wealth, resources, or the like; as, to drain a country of its specie.

Sinking waters, the firm land to drain, Filled the capacious deep and formed the main. --Roscommon.

3. To filter.

Salt water, drained through twenty vessels of earth, hath become fresh. --Bacon.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Drain

Drain\, v. i. 1. To flow gradually; as, the water of low ground drains off.

2. To become emptied of liquor by flowing or dropping; as, let the vessel stand and drain.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Drain

Drain\, n. 1. The act of draining, or of drawing off; gradual and continuous outflow or withdrawal; as, the drain of specie from a country.

2. That means of which anything is drained; a channel; a trench; a water course; a sewer; a sink.

3. pl. The grain from the mashing tub; as, brewers' drains. [Eng.] --Halliwell.

Box drain, Counter drain. See under Box, Counter.

Right of drain (Law), an easement or servitude by which one man has a right to convey water in pipes through or over the estate of another. --Kent.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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