# shower

/ˈʃaʊɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shower
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. brief rain

noun · CEFR A1

a short period of rain or snow.

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

- We got caught in a quick rain shower while walking to the park.
- The forecast predicts scattered showers throughout the afternoon, though they are expected to be light and move quickly across the valley.

### 2. washing device or act

noun · CEFR A1

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

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

- I always feel much better after a hot shower in the morning.
- The hotel suite featured a walk-in shower with adjustable pressure settings and a rainfall-style head.

### 3. gift party

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

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

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

- We are planning a surprise baby shower for my sister next weekend.
- The bridal shower was a sophisticated affair, held in a private garden with close friends and family members.

### 4. incompetent group

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

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

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

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

Teaching tip: This is a common British insult, often used to describe a team or a group of workers who have failed.

### 5. to wash

verb · CEFR A1

to wash your body using a shower.

For teachers: to bathe oneself using a shower apparatus. Intransitive or reflexive.

- He usually showers after he goes to the gym.
- After a long day of hiking through the mud, she couldn't wait to shower and change into clean clothes.

### 6. to give a lot

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- The fans showered the singer with flowers at the end of the concert.
- The committee showered the retiring professor with accolades, recognizing her decades of contribution to the field of linguistics.

Usage: Usually takes the preposition 'with'.

## Examples

- I take a hot shower every morning before work.
- The hotel room features a modern glass shower with excellent water pressure and temperature control.
- After a long day of hiking through the muddy valley, the simple luxury of a hot shower was the only thing on her mind.

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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.