# drain

/ˈdɹeɪn/ (US) · /dɹˈeɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drain
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to remove liquid

verb · CEFR B1

to make liquid flow away from something.

For teachers: to cause liquid to flow out of a container or area, often by means of a pipe or opening.

- You should drain the pasta thoroughly before adding the sauce.
- The engineers had to drain the reservoir completely before they could inspect the structural integrity of the dam's lower gates.

Usage: Often used with 'away' or 'off'.

### 2. to use up resources

verb · CEFR B2

to use all of someone's energy, money, or time.

For teachers: to deplete a person or organization of resources, energy, or emotional strength.

- Working two jobs really started to drain her energy after a few months.
- The prolonged legal battle threatened to drain the company's remaining cash reserves, forcing the board to consider a settlement.

### 3. to make a shot

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang

to successfully throw or hit a ball into a hole or basket.

For teachers: to successfully complete a shot, particularly in basketball or golf.

- He managed to drain a three-pointer right at the end of the game.
- The rookie showed incredible composure as he drained the final putt to secure his first major tournament victory.

### 4. a pipe for waste liquid

noun · CEFR B1

a pipe or hole that carries away dirty water or rain.

For teachers: a conduit or channel designed to carry off surplus liquid or waste water.

- The kitchen drain was blocked with old food and grease.
- Heavy rainfall caused the storm drains to overflow, flooding the lower levels of the parking garage within minutes.

### 5. a waste of resources

noun · CEFR B2

something that uses a lot of time, money, or effort without giving anything back.

For teachers: a person, thing, or activity that causes a continuous loss of resources.

- The old car was a constant drain on his finances.
- The ongoing military conflict proved to be a massive drain on the national economy, diverting funds from essential social services.

### 6. electronics terminal

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

one of the three parts of a special type of transistor.

For teachers: the terminal in a field-effect transistor (FET) through which the charge carriers leave the channel.

- The technician checked the voltage at the drain of the transistor.
- In an n-channel MOSFET, electrons flow from the source to the drain when a positive voltage is applied to the gate.

### 7. act of urination

noun · CEFR C2 · Vulgar · Slang

a very informal and rude way to talk about urinating.

For teachers: a vulgar slang term for the act of urination.

- He stepped behind the bushes for a quick drain.
- After the long drive, the men were desperate to find a quiet spot for a drain before continuing the journey.

## Examples

- The kitchen drain is blocked with food.
- Repairing the old car became a constant drain on his savings until he finally decided to sell it.
- The rapid expansion of the tech sector has caused a significant brain drain, as highly skilled researchers leave academia for more lucrative positions in private industry.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.