drain: Meaning and Definition of

drain

Pronunciation: (drān), [key]
— v.t.
  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.
—v.i.
  1. to flow off gradually.
  2. to become empty or dry by the gradual flowing off of liquid or moisture: This land drains into the Mississippi.
—n.
  1. something, as a pipe or conduit, by which a liquid drains.
  2. a material or appliance for maintaining the opening of a wound to permit free exit of fluids.
  3. gradual or continuous outflow, withdrawal, or expenditure.
  4. something that causes a large or continuous outflow, expenditure, or depletion: Medical expenses were a major drain on his bank account.
  5. an act of draining.
    1. an artificial watercourse, as a ditch or trench.
    2. a natural watercourse modified to increase its flow of water.
    1. to become worthless or profitless.
    2. to go out of existence; disappear.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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