Word
rainbow
Phoneticsrain·bow, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹeɪnˌboʊ/
UK/ɹˈeɪnbəʊ/
Definitions
01arch in the sky
A1 · Beginner Countable noun Science
n. a colourful arch that appears in the sky when the sun shines through rain.
n. a multicoloured arc produced by the prismatic refraction and reflection of light within water droplets in the atmosphere.
“The children ran outside to see the beautiful rainbow after the storm passed.”
“A double rainbow appeared over the valley, its secondary arc showing the colours in reverse order due to the double reflection of light within the raindrops.”
02a wide variety
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a large and varied group of different things or people.
n. a diverse assortment or varied multitude of items, ideas, or people.
“The shop sells a rainbow of different fabrics for sewing projects.”
“The festival offered a rainbow of cultural experiences, ranging from traditional folk dances to modern electronic music performances.”
Synonyms
03multicoloured
A2 · Elementary
adj. having many different colours, especially in the order of a rainbow.
adj. displaying a wide range of colours; often used to describe items that use the LGBT pride flag colours.
“She wore a bright rainbow scarf that matched her cheerful personality.”
“The city was decorated with rainbow banners to celebrate the annual pride parade and support the local community.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04multicultural
B2 · Upper Intermediate American English
adj. made up of people from many different races or backgrounds.
adj. composed of several different races, ethnicities, or cultural factions; often used in political contexts.
“The politician spoke about his vision for a rainbow coalition of voters.”
“The university prides itself on its rainbow student body, which represents over fifty different countries and hundreds of unique cultural traditions.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
05to make colourful
C2 · Proficiency Literary
v. to make something look bright or colourful like a rainbow.
v. to pattern or brighten a surface with the colours of the spectrum.
“The setting sun began to rainbow the clouds with pink and gold.”
“The oil spill on the wet pavement started to rainbow the surface, creating a shimmering but toxic film of iridescent colours.”
06poker hand
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technical · Slang
n. in card games like poker, a set of cards where every card is a different suit.
n. in Texas hold 'em or Omaha, a flop or hand consisting entirely of different suits, making a 'flush' impossible.
“The flop was a rainbow, so I knew nobody had a flush yet.”
“With a rainbow flop of uncoordinated cards, the players were forced to rely on high pairs rather than chasing potential flushes.”
Real-World Examples
“Queer Americans have adopted the rainbow as a cheery, powerful sign of diversity.” “This year, the colorful crosswalks began to vanish after Governor Greg Abbott instructed the Texas Department of Transportation to eliminate the rainbow markings and similar designs.” “More recently, the diversely coloured rainbow has been used to reflect diversity in sexuality, becoming the international symbol of the gay movement.” “With the sun setting at our backs, a fantastically bright and complete double rainbow framed the river-opening leading out to the sea.” Etymology
From Middle English reynbowe, raynbowe, from Old English reġnboga (“rainbow”), from Proto-West Germanic regnabogō, from Proto-Germanic regnabugô (“rainbow”), equivalent to rain + bow (“arch”). Cognate with West Frisian reinbôge (“rainbow”), Dutch regenboog (“rainbow”), German Regenbogen (“rainbow”), Danish regnbue (“rainbow”), Swedish regnbåge (“rainbow”), Icelandic regnbogi (“rainbow”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
In Literature
Cover: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — Jacket design by Marc Getter.
Gravity's Rainbow · 1973-02-28 · Historical fiction, postmodern novel
- Author:
- Thomas Pynchon
Thomas Pynchon’s complex 1973 novel follows several characters across Europe during the final months of World War II as they track a secret German rocket. The title refers to the physical arc a missile makes in the sky, comparing the path of a falling weapon to the shape of a colourful arch.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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