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rain

n. · v.
US //ˈɹeɪn// UK //ɹˈeɪn// rain
  1. 1 water from the sky (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    water that falls from clouds in small drops.

    condensed atmospheric water vapour falling to the surface of the earth in drops. Usually uncountable.

    Example

    The heavy rain soaked through my jacket before I could find my umbrella.

    Example

    The region had suffered from a lack of rain for months, leaving the soil parched and the local reservoirs dangerously low.
  2. 2 a large amount of falling objects (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a large number of things falling through the air at the same time.

    a large quantity of objects falling or descending simultaneously, often used figuratively to describe intensity.

    Example

    A rain of confetti fell on the players as they celebrated their victory.

    Example

    The archers released their arrows, creating a deadly rain of steel that forced the advancing infantry to seek immediate cover.
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  1. 3 weather (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    when water falls from the sky.

    to have water fall from the clouds as precipitation. Used as an impersonal verb with 'it'.

    Example

    It started to rain just as we arrived at the park for our picnic.

    Example

    Although the forecast predicted clear skies, it began to rain heavily, forcing the organisers to move the ceremony indoors.

    Usage

    Always used with the dummy subject 'it' when describing the weather.
    Pitfall
    It is raining since morning.
    It has been raining since morning.

    Use the present perfect continuous to describe an action that started in the past and is still happening now.

  2. 4 to give or fall in large amounts (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to fall like rain, or to give a lot of something to someone.

    to fall or be distributed in large quantities; often used with 'down' or 'on'.

    Example

    The crowd rained blows on the door until it finally broke open.

    Example

    The critics rained praise on the young director after the premiere, calling her debut a masterpiece of modern cinema.
Etymology 1

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *Hréǵʰ-der. Proto-Indo-European *Hréǵʰnos? Proto-Germanic *regną Proto-West Germanic *regn Old English reġn Middle English reyn English rain Inherited from Middle English reyn, rein, from Old English reġn, from Proto-West Germanic regn, from Proto-Germanic regną, of uncertain origin. Possibly from pre-Germanic Hréǵ-no-, from Proto-Indo-European Hreǵ- (“to flow”), although the consonant reflexes don't match. Cognates Cognate with Yola rhyne, ryne (“rain”), North Frisian Riin, rin (“rain”), Saterland Frisian Rien (“rain”), West Frisian rein (“rain”), Dutch regen (“rain”), Limburgish raenger, Rään (“rain”), German Low German Regen, Ręgen, Rägen (“rain”), Luxembourgish Reen (“rain”), German Regen (“rain”), Mòcheno reng (“rain”), Vilamovian raan (“rain”), Alemannic German regu, räge, rägä (“rain”), Bavarian Regn, rein (“rain”), Cimbrian regan, réego, reng (“rain”), Yiddish רעגן (regn, “rain”), Danish, Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish regn (“rain”), Crimean Gothic reghen (“rain”), Gothic 𐍂𐌹𐌲𐌽 (rign, “rain”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English reinen, from Old English reġnian, from Proto-West Germanic regnōn, from Proto-Germanic regnōną, from *regną (“rain”), as above. Cognates Cognate with Cimbrian règhenan, rengen (“to rain”), Dutch regenen (“to rain”), German regnen (“to rain”), Limburgish raengere, rääne (“to rain”), Low German regen (“to rain”), Luxembourgish reenen (“to rain”), Yiddish רעגענען (regenen, “to rain”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål regne (“to rain”), Faroese, Swedish regna (“to rain”), Icelandic rigna (“to rain”), Norwegian Nynorsk regna, regne (“to rain”).

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