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REFERENCE

shower

n. · v.
US //ˈʃaʊɝ// show·er
  1. 1 brief rain (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a short period of rain or snow.

    a brief fall of precipitation, typically rain, often characterized by sudden onset and cessation.

    Example

    We got caught in a quick rain shower while walking to the park.

    Example

    The forecast predicts scattered showers throughout the afternoon, though they are expected to be light and move quickly across the valley.
  2. 2 washing device or act (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a piece of equipment that sprays water over you to wash your body, or the act of using it.

    an apparatus for bathing that sprays water from overhead; also refers to the act of washing oneself using this equipment.

    Example

    I always feel much better after a hot shower in the morning.

    Example

    The hotel suite featured a walk-in shower with adjustable pressure settings and a rainfall-style head.
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  1. 3 gift party (n.)
    B1 Intermediate American English

    a party for someone who is getting married or having a baby, where they receive gifts.

    a social gathering held to celebrate a significant life event, such as a wedding or birth, where guests typically present the honoree with gifts.

    Example

    We are planning a surprise baby shower for my sister next weekend.

    Example

    The bridal shower was a sophisticated affair, held in a private garden with close friends and family members.
  2. 4 incompetent group (n.)
    C1 Advanced British English Informal

    a group of people who are very bad at what they do.

    a collective term used to describe a group of people perceived as incompetent, disorganized, or worthless.

    Example

    The new management team is a total shower; they have no idea what they are doing.

    Example

    The sergeant looked at the new recruits and muttered that he had never seen such a shower in all his years of service.

    Usage

    Usually used with 'a' and followed by 'of'.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a common British insult, often used to describe a team or a group of workers who have failed.
  3. 5 to wash (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to wash your body using a shower.

    to bathe oneself using a shower apparatus. Intransitive or reflexive.

    Example

    He usually showers after he goes to the gym.

    Example

    After a long day of hiking through the mud, she couldn't wait to shower and change into clean clothes.
  4. 6 to give a lot (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to give someone a lot of something, like gifts or praise.

    to bestow something liberally or in great quantities upon a person.

    Example

    The fans showered the singer with flowers at the end of the concert.

    Example

    The committee showered the retiring professor with accolades, recognizing her decades of contribution to the field of linguistics.

    Usage

    Usually takes the preposition 'with'.
Etymology 1

From Middle English schour (“shower”), from Old English sċūr (“shower”), from Proto-West Germanic skūru (“shower”), from Proto-Germanic skūrō (“storm, short shower”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱēwer- (“north, north wind, cold wind, rain shower”). Cognates Cognate with Dutch schoer (“downpour, heavy rainshower”), German Schauer (“shower”), Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish skur (“shower”), Faroese skúrur (“shower”), Icelandic skúr (“shower”), Norn skur (“squall”), Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌿𐍂𐌰 (skūra, “storm”), Italian coro (“northwestern wind”), Spanish cauro (“northwestern wind”), Belarusian се́вер (sjévjer), сі́вер (sívjer), Bulgarian and Russian се́вер (séver, “north”), Czech and Slovak sever (“north”), Macedonian север (sever, “north”), Serbo-Croatian sȅvēr, sjȅvēr (“north”), Slovene sẹ́ver (“north”), Ukrainian сі́вер (síver, “cold, cold, bitter wind”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English showre, schawere, schewere (“one who exhibits something, actor; watchman, overseer, guide; sign; mirror; index finger”), from Old English sċēawere (“an observer, one who examines into a matter; a spy; mirror; actor, buffoon”), equivalent to show + -er. Cognate with Dutch schouwer (“observer, visionary, clairvoyant”), German Schauer (“an inspector”).

Idioms3 entries

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