rain Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
    rainfall.
  2. noun drops of fresh water that fall as precipitation from clouds
    rainwater.
  3. noun anything happening rapidly or in quick successive
    pelting.
    • a rain of bullets
    • a pelting of insults
  4. verb precipitate as rain
    rain down.
    • If it rains much more, we can expect some flooding

WordNet

Rain noun & verb
Definitions
  1. Reign. Obs. Spenser.
Rain noun
Etymology
OF. rein, AS. regen; akin to OFries. rein, D. & G. regen, OS. & OHG. regan, Icel., Dan., & Sw. regn, Goth. rign, and prob. to L. rigare to water, to wet; cf. Gr. to wet, to rain.
Definitions
  1. Water falling in drops from the clouds; the descent of water from the clouds in drops.
    Rain is water by the heat of the sun divided into very small parts ascending in the air, till, encountering the cold, it be condensed into clouds, and descends in drops. Ray.
    Fair days have oft contracted wind and rain. Milton.
    ✍ Rain is distinguished from mist by the size of the drops, which are distinctly visible. When water falls in very small drops or particles, it is called mist; and fog is composed of particles so fine as to be not only individually indistinguishable, but to float or be suspended in the air. See Fog, and Mist.
Rain intransitive verb
Etymology
AS. regnian, akin to G. regnen, Goth. rignjan. See Rain, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Rained ; present participle & verbal noun Raining
Definitions
  1. To fall in drops from the clouds, as water; used mostly with it for a nominative; as, it rains.
    The rain it raineth every day. Shak.
  2. To fall or drop like water from the clouds; as, tears rained from their eyes.
Rain transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To pour or shower down from above, like rain from the clouds.
    Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. Ex. xvi. 4.
  2. To bestow in a profuse or abundant manner; as, to rain favors upon a person.

Webster 1913