rain: Meaning and Definition of

rain

Pronunciation: (rān), [key]
— n.
  1. water that is condensed from the aqueous vapor in the atmosphere and falls to earth in drops more than in. (0.5 mm) in diameter. Cf.(def. 6).
  2. a rainfall, rainstorm, or shower: We had a light rain this afternoon.
  3. the rainy season; seasonal rainfall, as in India.
  4. weather marked by steady or frequent rainfall: We had rain most of last summer.
  5. a heavy and continuous descent or inflicting of anything: a rain of blows; a rain of vituperation.
—v.i.
  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.
  3. to send down rain: The lightning flashed and the sky rained on us in torrents.
—v.t.
  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.
  3. to deal, hurl, fire, etc., repeatedly: to rain blows on someone's head.
  4. to rain very heavily or steadily: We canceled our picnic because it rained cats and dogs.
  5. to cause, by raining, the cancellation or postponement of a sports event, performance, or the like: The double-header was rained out yesterday.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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