rain

[ reyn ]
See synonyms for rain on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. water that is condensed from the aqueous vapor in the atmosphere and falls to earth in drops more than 0.02 inch (0.5 millimeters) in diameter.: Compare drizzle (def. 6).

  2. a rainfall, rainstorm, or shower: We had a light rain this afternoon.

  1. rains, the rainy season; seasonal rainfall, as in India.

  2. weather marked by steady or frequent rainfall: We had rain most of last summer.

  3. a heavy and continuous descent or inflicting of anything: a rain of blows; a rain of vituperation.

verb (used without object)
  1. (of rain) to fall (usually used impersonally with it as subject): It rained all night.

  2. to fall like rain: Tears rained from their eyes.

  1. to send down rain: The lightning flashed and the sky rained on us in torrents.

verb (used with object)
  1. to send down in great quantities, as small pieces or objects: People on rooftops rained confetti on the parade.

  2. to offer, bestow, or give in great quantity: to rain favors upon a person.

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

Verb Phrases
  1. 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.

Idioms about rain

  1. rain cats and dogs, Informal. to rain very heavily or steadily: We canceled our picnic because it rained cats and dogs.

Origin of rain

1
First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English rein; Old English regn, rēn, cognate with Dutch, German regen, Old Norse regn, Gothic rign; (verb) Middle English reinen, Old English regnian

Other words for rain

Other words from rain

  • rainless, adjective
  • rain·less·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with rain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use rain in a sentence

  • Upon his knees then, he lingered, while I rained blow after blow upon his upturned face.

    The Homesteader | Oscar Micheaux
  • The night was pitch-dark, it rained in torrents, there was mud and water everywhere, and the ground was too flat to drain.

    The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
  • Why, one day when it rained, and we got under the same bridge, she just talked to her hoss all the time.

    Alec Lloyd, Cowpuncher | Eleanor Gates
  • Son of man, say to her: Thou art a land that is unclean, and not rained upon in the day of wrath.

  • Cards of invitation from the most distinguished personages rained down upon the fortunate veteran in profusion.

British Dictionary definitions for rain

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

  1. a large quantity of anything falling rapidly or in quick succession: a rain of abuse

  1. rain or shine or come rain or shine

    • regardless of the weather

    • regardless of circumstances

  2. right as rain British informal perfectly all right; perfectly fit

verb
  1. (intr ; with it as subject) to be the case that rain is falling

  2. (often with it as subject) to fall or cause to fall like rain: the lid flew off and popcorn rained on everyone

  1. (tr) to bestow in large measure: to rain abuse on someone

  2. rain cats and dogs informal to rain heavily; pour

  3. rained off cancelled or postponed on account of rain

Origin of rain

1
Old English regn; related to Old Frisian rein, Old High German regan, Gothic rign
  • US and Canadian term: rained out

Derived forms of rain

  • rainless, adjective

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 rain

rain

[ rān ]


  1. 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.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with rain

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.