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rainbow - 7 dictionary results

rain⋅bow

[reyn-boh]
–noun
1. a bow or arc of prismatic colors appearing in the heavens opposite the sun and caused by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays in drops of rain. Compare primary rainbow, secondary rainbow.
2. a similar bow of colors, esp. one appearing in the spray of a waterfall or fountain.
3. any brightly multicolored arrangement or display.
4. a wide variety or range; gamut.
5. a visionary goal: He pursued the rainbow of a singing career for years before becoming a success.
6. rainbow trout.
–adjective
7. made up of diverse races, ethnic groups, etc.: a rainbow coalition of supporters.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME reinbowe, OE regnboga; c. ON regnbogi, G Regenbogen. See rain, bow 2


rainbowy, rain⋅bow⋅like, adjective
rain·bow   (rān'bō')   
n.  
    1. An arc of spectral colors, usually identified as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, that appears in the sky opposite the sun as a result of the refractive dispersion of sunlight in drops of rain or mist.
    2. A similar arc or band, as one produced by a prism or by iridescence.
    3. A graded display of colors.
  1. An illusory hope: chasing the rainbow of overnight success.
  2. A diverse assortment or collection.

[Middle English, from Old English rēnboga : rēn, rain + boga, bow; see bow3.]

Rainbow

Rain"bow`\, n. [AS. regenboga, akin to G. regenbogen. See Rain, and Bow anything bent,] A bow or arch exhibiting, in concentric bands, the several colors of the spectrum, and formed in the part of the hemisphere opposite to the sun by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays in drops of falling rain.

Note: Besides the ordinary bow, called also primary rainbow, which is formed by two refractions and one reflection, there is also another often seen exterior to it, called the secondary rainbow, concentric with the first, and separated from it by a small interval. It is formed by two refractions and two reflections, is much fainter than the primary bow, and has its colors arranged in the reverse order from those of the latter.

Lunar rainbow, a fainter arch or rainbow, formed by the moon.

Marine rainbow, or Sea bow, a similar bow seen in the spray of waves at sea.

Rainbow trout (Zo["o]l.), a bright-colored trout (Salmoirideus), native of the mountains of California, but now extensively introduced into the Eastern States. Japan, and other countries; -- called also brook trout, mountain trout, and golden trout.

Rainbow wrasse. (Zo["o]l.) See under Wrasse.

Supernumerary rainbow, a smaller bow, usually of red and green colors only, sometimes seen within the primary or without the secondary rainbow, and in contact with them.
Language Translation for : rainbow
Spanish: arco iris,
German: der Regenbogen,
Japanese:

rainbow

The colored arch in the sky that is often seen after a rain. The rainbow is formed when water droplets in the air cause the diffraction of sunlight.

Note: The colors of the rainbow are violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red.

Main Entry: rain·bow
Pronunciation: 'rAn-"bO
Function: noun
slang : a combination of the sodium derivatives of amobarbital and secobarbitalin a blue and red capsule
rainbow   (rān'bō')  Pronunciation Key 


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An arc-shaped spectrum of color seen in the sky opposite the Sun, especially after rain, caused by the refraction and reflection of sunlight by droplets of water suspended in the air. Secondary rainbows that are larger and paler sometimes appear within the primary arc with the colors reversed (red being inside). These result from two reflections and refractions of a light ray inside a droplet.

Rainbow

caused by the reflection and refraction of the rays of the sun shining on falling rain. It was appointed as a witness of the divine faithfulness (Gen. 9:12-17). It existed indeed before, but it was then constituted as a sign of the covenant. Others, however (as Delitzsch, Commentary on Pentateuch), think that it "appeared then for the first time in the vault and clouds of heaven." It is argued by those holding this opinion that the atmosphere was differently constituted before the Flood. It is referred to three other times in Scripture (Ezek. 1:27, 28; Rev. 4:1-3; 10:1).

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