rain1 nounrain2 verb
rainrain1 /reɪn/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 
WORD ORIGINrain1
Origin:
Old English regnEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Four inches of rain have fallen in four days.
- I like walking in the rain
- Some light rain is likely in the Boston area.
- The rain was beating against the window.
- The coast has been battered by torrential rain all week.
- The roads are flooded after a period of exceptionally heavy rain.
- There's an 80% chance of rain.
- When acid rain falls, it affects the pH balance of the soil.
- Between the gusts, the sound of rain on the roof and water pouring off it was continuous.
- However, the weather may not be so good, and rain and gales are frequent.
- It was peaceful, under the rain.
- The moist snowfall had changed into rain.
- The new wind brought rain, and not just showers, but a constant soaking deluge flying sometimes straight at us.
- The undisguised face gleamed in the rain.
THESAURUS
noun [uncountable] water that falls in small drops from clouds in the sky: · The rain has stopped at last.· There had been heavy rain during the night.
noun [uncountable] light rain with very small drops of water: · A light drizzle was falling as I left the house.
noun [countable] a short period of rain that can be heavy or light: · More heavy showers are forecast for tonight.· a light shower of rain
noun [countable usually singular] a short period of very heavy rain that starts suddenly: · A sudden downpour sent us running for shelter.· a torrential downpour
noun [uncountable] frozen rain that falls in the form of hailstones (=small balls of ice): · The hail and high winds have destroyed many of the county’s crops.
noun [uncountable] a mixture of snow and rain: · The rain had turned to sleet.· Sleet and snow fell.
noun [plural] heavy rain that falls during a particular period in the year in tropical countries: · The farmers are waiting for the rains to come.
noun [countable] the heavy rain that falls between April and October in India and other southern Asian countries: · The monsoon is late this year.· the monsoon season
Longman Language Activatorrain water that falls from the sky in small drops: the rain: · The rain was beating against the window.in the rain: · I like walking in the rainheavy/torrential rain (=a lot of rain): · The roads are flooded after a period of exceptionally heavy rain.· The coast has been battered by torrential rain all week.light rain (=a little rain): · Some light rain is likely in the Boston area.rain falls (=comes down from the sky): · Four inches of rain have fallen in four days.acid rain (=rain that contains harmful chemicals from industry): · When acid rain falls, it affects the pH balance of the soil.
if it rains , water falls from the sky in the form of small drops: it rains: · It rained all night, and half the day after.· Take an umbrella in case it rains.
spoken use this to say that rain is falling now: · Look, it's raining again.· Is it still raining?it's raining hard/heavily (=raining a lot): · It had been raining heavily and the ground was very soft.
spoken use this to say that it is raining very hard: · As soon as I got outside it started pouring.it's pouring with rain British: · It was pouring with rain and she had forgotten her umbrella.
spoken use this to say that it is raining a little, with very small drops of rain: · I think I'll walk to work - it's only drizzling.
American spoken use this to say that it is raining a little, usually when it will not last long: · "Is it raining out?" "It's just sprinkling."
if the weather is wet or rainy , it rains a lot: · It's been wet all week.· You should bring a waterproof jacket and strong boots in case of wet weather.· a rainy weekend in November
a short period of rain, especially light rain: · It was just a shower, so we didn't get too wetheavy showers (=when a lot of rain falls for short periods): · Heavy showers are forecast for the weekend.light showers (=when a small amount of rain falls during short periods): · The weather will be cloudy with light showers in places.
spoken wet weather outdoors: · Come on in out of the wet.
a time of the year when it rains a lot in hot countries: · The seeds must be planted in time for the rainy season.· At this time of year, before the Monsoon, the river is at its lowest.monsoon rains: · During the monsoon rains, torrents of water spill down the mountains.
happening or used in any kind of weather if something happens rain or shine , it always happens or it will definitely happen whether the weather is good or bad: · My husband plays golf every weekend, rain or shine.come rain or shine: · Organizers say the concert in Central Park will go ahead come rain or shine.
British if someone does something in all weathers , they do it in all kinds of weather, even when the weather is very unpleasant: · There are homeless people sleeping on the streets of London in all weathers.· She loves gardening -- she's out in her garden in all weathers.
use this about a sports ground or sports equipment which can be used in any weather conditions: · The team now have their own all-weather stadium, and matches are rarely cancelled.· an all-weather jacket
WORD SETSbackwater, nounbank, nounbank, verbbare, adjectivebarrier reef, nounbay, nounbayou, nounbeach, nounbeck, nounbelt, nounbillow, nounbiting, adjectivebitter, adjectiveblack ice, nounblast, nounblazing, adjectivebleach, verbblizzard, nounblow, verbblowy, adjectivebluff, nounbluster, verbblustery, adjectivebog, nounboiling, adjectiveboulder, nounbracing, adjectivebreaker, nounbreeze, nounbreezy, adjectivebrook, nounbrush, nounbrushwood, nounburn, nounbutte, nouncanyon, nouncascade, nouncataract, nouncave, nouncavern, nounchange, verbchasm, nounchoppy, adjectiveclap, nounclear, verbclement, adjectivecliff, nouncloud, nouncloudburst, nouncloudy, adjectivecoast, nouncoastal, adjectivecoastline, nouncone, nouncopse, nouncountry, nouncranny, nouncrater, nouncreation, nouncreep, verbcrisp, adjectivecrosswind, nouncumulus, nouncyclone, noundale, noundell, noundense, adjectivedew, noundewdrop, noundewfall, noundewy, adjectivedisgorge, verbdog days, noundownpour, noundownriver, adverbdownstream, adverbdownwind, adverbdrift, verbdrift, noundriftwood, noundrizzle, noundrop, verbdrop, noundrought, noundry, adjectivedry land, noundull, adjectivedune, nounduster, noundust storm, nouneast, adjectiveeddy, nounelectrical storm, nounequable, adjectiveeye, nounface, nounfail, verbfair, adjectivefall, nounfell, nounfen, nounfield, nounfierce, adjectivefiord, nounfirth, nounfjord, nounflood, verbflood, nounflood tide, nounflotsam, nounflow, nounflow, verbflower, nounflurry, nounfog, nounfogbound, adjectivefoggy, adjectivefoothill, nounfoothold, nounford, nounforeshore, nounforest, nounfoul, adjectivefreak, adjectivefreeze, nounfresh, adjectivefreshen, verbfreshwater, adjectivefrost, nounfury, noungale, noungale force, adjectivegap, noungentle, adjectivegeyser, nounglacial, adjectiveglen, noungnarled, adjectivegrassy, adjectivegreen, adjectivegreenery, nounground, nounground level, noungulley, noungully, noungust, noungust, verbgusty, adjectivehail, nounhailstone, nounhailstorm, nounhaze, nounheadwind, nounheath, nounheather, nounheat wave, nounhigh tide, nounhigh water, nounhill, nounhillock, nounhillside, nounhill station, nounhilly, adjectivehoarfrost, nounhot spring, nounhummock, nounhurricane, nounice, nouniceberg, nounice cap, nouninclement, adjectiveincline, nounIndian summer, nouninland, adjectiveinland, adverbinlet, nouninshore, adverbisland, nounisle, nounislet, nounjetsam, nounjungle, nounknoll, nounlake, nounlakeside, adjectiveledge, nounlightning, nounlip, nounloch, nounlough, nounlow tide, nounlow water, nounmarshland, nounmeadow, nounmere, nounmild, adjectivemillpond, nounmire, nounmist, nounmisty, adjectivemoan, verbmoan, nounmonsoon, nounmoonless, adjectivemoor, nounmoorland, nounMother Nature, nounmound, nounmountain, nounmountainous, adjectivemountainside, nounmountaintop, nounmouth, nounmudflat, nounmull, nounmurmur, verbmurmur, nounnarrows, nounnestle, verbnew moon, nounnook, nounnorth, adjectivenortheast, adjectivenortheaster, nounnortheasterly, adjectivenortherly, adjectivenorthwest, adjectivenorthwester, nounnorthwesterly, adjectivenotch, nounoasis, nounonshore, adjectiveooze, nounoutcrop, nounovercast, adjectiveozone, nounpack ice, nounpalisade, nounpanorama, nounparch, verbparched, adjectivepass, nounpatchy, adjectivepeak, nounpeal, nounpeasouper, nounpebble, nounpelt, verbpenumbra, nounperishing, adjectivepinewood, nounpinnacle, nounpitiless, adjectivepond, nounpour, verbprecipice, nounprospect, nounpuddle, nounquicksand, nounradiate, verbraging, adjectiverain, nounrainbow, nounrain drop, nounrainfall, nounrainstorm, nounrainwater, nounrainy, adjectiverange, nounrapids, nounrarefied, adjectiveravine, nounraw, adjectiverecede, verbreedy, adjectivereef, nounreservoir, nounridge, nounrift, nounrime, nounrise, verbrise, nounrock, nounrocky, adjectiveroll, verbrolling, adjectiverough, adjectiverural, adjectivescenery, nounscud, verbsea breeze, nounsea mist, nounset, verbshore, nounsky, nounslope, nounsludge, nounsnow, nounsnowbound, adjectivesnow-capped, adjectivesnowdrift, nounsnowfall, nounsnowflake, nounsnowstorm, nounsnowy, adjectivesouth, adjectivesoutheast, adjectivesoutheaster, nounsoutheasterly, adjectivesoutherly, adjectivesouthwest, adjectivesouthwesterly, adjectivespinney, nounspring, nounstream, nounsullen, adjectivesultry, adjectivesummer, nounsummit, nounsun, nounsundown, nounsun-drenched, adjectivesunrise, nounsunset, nounsunshine, nounswamp, nounsweep, verbswollen, adjectivetempestuous, adjectivethaw, verbthaw, nounthicket, nounthin, adjectivethunder, verbthunderbolt, nounthunderstorm, nounthundery, adjectivetide, nountreeless, adjectivetree-lined, adjectivetrough, nounturf, nountussock, nountwilight, nounvale, nounvalley, nounverdant, adjectivevisibility, nounvoid, nounwashout, nounwater, nounwatercourse, nounwaterfall, nounwaterside, nounwaterspout, nounwax, verbwest, adjectivewest, adverbwestbound, adjectivewesterly, adjectivewesternmost, adjectivewestward, adverbwet, adjectivewhirlpool, nounwhirlwind, nounwhite horses, nounwhitewater, nounwild, adjectivewill o' the wisp, nounwind, nounwindstorm, nounwindswept, adjectivewindy, adjectivewood, nounwooded, adjectivewoodland, nounwoodsy, adjectivewoody, adjectivezephyr, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYADJECTIVES/NOUN + rain
I struggled back to the hut through blinding rain. He changed out of his rain-drenched clothes. The rain dripped down his neck. It’s been raining heavily all day. Heavy rain has caused flooding in many areas. the cold wind and pelting rain a shower of rain rain-sodden hair the tropical rain forestsCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
(=with a lot of water coming down)· The rain became more heavy.
(=with little water coming down)· A light rain began to fall.
(=very heavy)· I woke to the sound of torrential rain.
(=very heavy rain)· He left us standing in the pouring rain.
(=heavy rain that is falling fast or being blown along)· They struggled to walk against driving rain.
(=extremely cold rain)· the icy wind and freezing rain
(=very gentle rain)· A fine rain was coming down as the game started.
(=rain which contains pollution from factories)· forests which have been damaged by acid rain
verbs· The rain was still falling steadily.
(=it falls)· If the rain starts coming down, we can always go inside.· The monsoon rain comes down in sheets.
· They went into a cafe and waited for the rain to stop.
(=it starts to rain less)· The rain should ease off in a minute.
(=a lot of rain comes down)· The rain was pouring down and I was quickly soaked.
(=it comes down fast)· The rain was now pelting down.
(=it falls or hits something with a lot of force)· Isabel listened to the rain beating down.
(=drops of rain hit something and make a sound)· Rain pattered on the roof.
(=be outside when it starts raining)· Did you get caught in the rain?
phrases British English, it is pouring rain American English (=a lot of rain is falling)· When we went outside it was pouring with rain.
(=rain appears likely because there are dark clouds in the sky)· We ate indoors because it looked like rain.
· Robert felt a drop of rain on his face.
· Two inches of rain fell in twelve hours.
(=short periods of rain – used in weather forecasts)· Outbreaks of rain will spread across northern parts.
(also a shower of rain British English) (=a short period of rain)· a heavy shower of rain accompanied by lightning
(=large moving masses of heavy rain)· He drove home slowly, through sheets of rain.
· Thick black rain clouds massed in the sky.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I struggled back to the hut through blinding rain.· The sky had been full of rain clouds for days.
He changed out of his rain-drenched clothes. The rain dripped down his neck. It’s been raining heavily all day. Heavy rain has caused flooding in many areas. the cold wind and pelting rain British English It was pouring down with rain at three o'clock.
It was pouring down with rain at three o'clock. a shower of rain rain-sodden hair· They got caught in a terrible snow storm.
the tropical rain forests· For example, Norwich rain has been found to be twice as acid as rain at a rural site nearby.· Sulphur goes on to produce acid rain.· Carbonates destroyed by the acid rain release vast quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.· Has no one told him about acid rain or the carcinogens in coal waste?· People say that acid rain from processing plants have rotted their tin roofs.· Out on the motorways cars go into the fog. Acid rain at the rattling glass.· They said the reason the trees were dying was acid rain.
· The weather had changed to cold, steady rain.· It is evening, a steady cold rain is falling outside and gusts of wind rattle the shutters.· Several hundred fans, already cold from intermittent rain, slept in the station overnight.· A cold rain was beginning to fall, the sky to the east was very dark.· In age she recollected the sensation of hot tears mixing with cold rain.· He leaned up against the window and watched a cold early July rain fall, watched the trees shake.· You don't see teachers out on the picket line, in the cold and the rain, have you noticed?· That evening, as a cold rain began to fall, we were the last family admitted to the receiving camp.
· The weather broke down thereafter, and in driving chill rain tempers were cooled.· The darkness was so complete that no one could have seen her through the driving rain and almost instantly the house disappeared.· Inside, peace reigns, even in driving rain.· There was continuous driving rain, and a cold that numbed me.· The air was full of driving rain as Jack climbed the hill.· He took the Mascot Missile's keys from the tray in the hall and went out into the driving rain.· He let go and ducked back into the driving rain.
· Many of the day's activities took place indoors to escape the heavy rain.· But in heavy rains, when the reservoir overflows, excessive levels of metals flow into Keswick Reservoir and downstream.· But when water levels rise, after heavy rain, the caves flood, bringing water into contact with the pollutants.· At Scott Flat Reservoir in the Sierra foothills, heavy rain with hail.· I told him that the weather was horrendous on Tiree also, with cloud and heavy rain, and getting worse.· The heavy rains left puddles in the center circle and in the corners.· It was believed that the accident happened as an indirect result of heavy rain and snow storms in the city.· Streams can get high and swift very quickly following heavy rains.
· A light rain began to fall.· The clouds were turbulent and gray, a cool, light rain still falling.· I stand in a light mist of rain.· As he walked along, light rain began to fall.· The prohibition was lifted in some counties last week after light rain fell over much of the state.· East Anglia: Patchy light rain.· Dead meat with a light blood rain was everywhere: I shivered.
· On the other hand, driving round at night, in the pouring rain, didn't appeal either.· Two glasses of wine. Pouring rain and flat grey sky outside.· Then, crouching down, I peered out through the pouring rain and saw such a sight as I will never forget.· Two figures stood under it in the pouring rain.· Then, he mingled with people in Belfast's city centre during pouring rain and chatted with pupils of Deramore High School.· Have you ever been up to Clogwyn Du'r Arddu in the pouring rain and the vilest weather?· Jumbles of furniture, bedding, household objects stood in the pouring rain.· Apart from the pouring rain, we had to contend with mist - luckily we were on a clear path.
· As El Ni o ebbs away, drought follows the torrential rain.· He spent many nights sleeping in an open orchard in torrential rain until he located a small cave.· During the night there was torrential rain.· Six hours before our meeting began, the city was deluged with torrential rain.· The weather was appalling, torrential rain, heavy winds and icy temperatures - ideal for sprinting!· My mum and dad drove us to the airport in the torrential rain and wind.· When the land is exposed to the harsh tropical sun and torrential rain, it quickly becomes infertile.· He dropped his head into his hands. Torrential rain was quickly turning the building-site into a quagmire.
· The tropical rain hardly dampened the mood of the waiting crowd.· Most species live in tropical rain forests.· The drive is spectacular: gorges and tropical rain forests and waterfalls on every hand, but I thought only of Poppy.· For the environmentally minded contractor, several lumber companies in California are now marketing ethically chopped tropical rain forest timber.· That becomes only too clear if you find yourself hungry in a tropical rain forest.· A deluge of tropical rain fell on us an hour later.· Up to half of the tropical rain forests cut down or burned are transformed not into wasteland but into secondary forest.
NOUN· For others the clouds might gather and the rains fall, but never for Maurice and those around him.· I stood in the doorway of a store during the storms we were having and watched the rain fall through the gloom.· Switch to a spring dressing when rain fall drops and leaching will be less, he urges.· Only on the coldest winter days or when rain falls will they move inside.· He leaned up against the window and watched a cold early July rain fall, watched the trees shake.
· Farming, then, is the biggest devourer of rain forest.· Meanwhile, the felling and burning of tile Amazonian rain forest had also become a major story.· The drive is spectacular: gorges and tropical rain forests and waterfalls on every hand, but I thought only of Poppy.· Beyond the pristine beaches are rain forests.· We want to get an idea of what's going on in the rain forest canopy.· A simulated rain forest will be installed inside two climate-controlled buildings, also in the post-2006 phase.· Of those that pollinate a small percentage of tropical rain forest trees, a minority feed exclusively on floral resources.· As in the first pavilion, the conservatory recedes into the background and the rain forest embraces visitors.
· I feel the wind on my face and the first drops of a summer rain shower falling on my hair.· The latest rain shower had stopped, and an orange, smoky sunset came on.· However, cloud conditions in Florida are expected to worsen after Friday, with low clouds and rain showers likely.· A rain shower splatters so realistically, you almost feel wet.· They were married between rain showers at an outdoor ceremony at the farm near Hope, N.D., Saturday night.
· If your tap water is of doubtful quality then you must be prepared to remedy the situation or use rain water instead.· Only distilled water, rain water, or water from a clean aquarium should be used.· Neither does it lose its sweetness by becoming diluted with rain water.· No new rain water is used.· The bottles you buy today contain rain water which fell up to 80 years ago.· When rain water hits pyrite ore, it forms sulfuric acid, which leaches out copper and other metals.· Also, the rain water has been a very weak acid because it links with carbon dioxide in the air.· Whenever possible well-filtered rain water should be used.
VERB· We can buy houses, take care of babies, fight wars, drive in the pouring rain.· I was 300 yards from home in a restaurant and had only used my car anyway because it was pouring with rain.· In this pouring rain on a busy street corner in Paris, I watch her face go soft with recognition.· As well as the wind, it poured with rain.· It didn't, and by the time she did reach the village it was fully dark - and pouring with rain.· It was pouring with rain now, but standing right there on the shiny Eighth Street pavement was Signe.· She sketched even faster, wanting to get everything down before it began to pour with rain.
· Nothing was stopping in the rain.· Is it to stop the rain spoiling their designer hairstyles or is it because they may get damp and catch the sniffles?
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► rain of somethingPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► it is pissing down (with rain)
1[uncountable] water that falls in small drops from clouds in the sky: - The rains have started early this year.
- After the rains, sewage flows down fissured hills propped up with old tires for erosion control.
- Coupled with this, the rains eventually did come.
- Fifteen minutes after the rains began, according to equatorial form, the sky had cleared and we were steaming dry.
- He can predict the exact hour the rains will come.
- One day, the rains came, flooding the city in warm, wet torrents.
- Profits from it will go to local farmers who have been unable to make a living since the rains failed.
- The remaining 200 to 300 acres will be restored to seasonal wetlands, which fill with freshwater ponds during the rains.
- When the rains came, they huddled under umbrellas and makeshift tents and donned ponchos or raincoats fashioned from plastic garbage bags.
- Burrow runs two miles, rain or shine, everyday.
- Every morning at about 5am, come rain or shine, James Zarei leaves his South Croydon home on his morning run.
- He seldom drinks alcohol, never touches drugs, and runs six miles every morning, rain or shine.
- I kid you not: each year rain or shine, Californian Poppy.
- Scores of rambling and cycling clubs headed remorselessly for the Dales each weekend, come rain or shine.
- The working week began every Monday, rain or shine.
- He feels like a fool in his virtual reality goggles as he trudges through the driving rain to the parked aircraft.
- In the face of the hard, driving snow, the stage slowed.
- Inside, peace reigns, even in driving rain.
- The air was full of driving rain as Jack climbed the hill.
- The darkness was so complete that no one could have seen her through the driving rain and almost instantly the house disappeared.
- The somber job was made more difficult by driving snow and subfreezing temperatures.
- There was continuous driving rain, and a cold that numbed me.
- They carried parasols and held them against the driving snow as they minced along in three-inch clogs.
- I'm sorry but I'm busy on Saturday - can I take a rain check?
- The warning voice could go take a rain check, she thought.
- A few spots of rain fell on Claire.
- As they passed through the town of Isserre, spots of rain spat on to the windscreen.
- But although it was early the sky had become quite dark and he felt a few spots of rain.
- But most areas did avoid the rain apart from a few spots of rain over the islands.
- As El Ni o ebbs away, drought follows the torrential rain.
- Bob Weber's house south of Larimore has had water to the top of the basement since last week's torrential rains.
- Five target fish were nominated for the second day as the anglers struggled to overcome persistent torrential rain and buffeting winds.
- He spent many nights sleeping in an open orchard in torrential rain until he located a small cave.
- It follows torrential rain yesterday, which flooded roads, and caused chaos as hundreds of commuters were stuck in traffic jams.
- My mum and dad drove us to the airport in the torrential rain and wind.
- The weather was appalling, torrential rain, heavy winds and icy temperatures - ideal for sprinting!
- When the land is exposed to the harsh tropical sun and torrential rain, it quickly becomes infertile.
a night of wind and rain There will be heavy rain in most parts of the country.in the rain I left my bicycle out in the rain. → acid rain, rain drop, rainy2the rains heavy rain that falls during a particular period in the year in tropical countries: Last year, the rains came on time in April.3rain of something a large number of things falling or moving through the air together: The archers sent a rain of arrows towards the enemy.4(come) rain or shine spoken whatever happens or whatever the weather is like: Don’t worry. We’ll be there – rain or shine.—rainless adjective → right as rain at right1(9)COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + rainheavy (=with a lot of water coming down)· The rain became more heavy.light (=with little water coming down)· A light rain began to fall.torrential (=very heavy)· I woke to the sound of torrential rain.pouring rain (=very heavy rain)· He left us standing in the pouring rain.driving rain (=heavy rain that is falling fast or being blown along)· They struggled to walk against driving rain.freezing rain (=extremely cold rain)· the icy wind and freezing rainfine rain (=very gentle rain)· A fine rain was coming down as the game started.acid rain (=rain which contains pollution from factories)· forests which have been damaged by acid rainverbsthe rain falls· The rain was still falling steadily.the rain comes down (=it falls)· If the rain starts coming down, we can always go inside.· The monsoon rain comes down in sheets.the rain stops· They went into a cafe and waited for the rain to stop.the rain eases off (=it starts to rain less)· The rain should ease off in a minute.the rain pours down (=a lot of rain comes down)· The rain was pouring down and I was quickly soaked.the rain pelts down (=it comes down fast)· The rain was now pelting down.the rain beats/lashes (=it falls or hits something with a lot of force)· Isabel listened to the rain beating down.the rain patters on something (=drops of rain hit something and make a sound)· Rain pattered on the roof.get caught in the rain (=be outside when it starts raining)· Did you get caught in the rain?phrasesit is pouring with rain British English, it is pouring rain American English (=a lot of rain is falling)· When we went outside it was pouring with rain.it looks like rain (=rain appears likely because there are dark clouds in the sky)· We ate indoors because it looked like rain.a drop of rain· Robert felt a drop of rain on his face.an inch/25mm etc of rain· Two inches of rain fell in twelve hours.outbreaks of rain (=short periods of rain – used in weather forecasts)· Outbreaks of rain will spread across northern parts.a rain shower (also a shower of rain British English) (=a short period of rain)· a heavy shower of rain accompanied by lightningsheets of rain (=large moving masses of heavy rain)· He drove home slowly, through sheets of rain.a rain cloud· Thick black rain clouds massed in the sky.THESAURUSrain noun [uncountable] water that falls in small drops from clouds in the sky: · The rain has stopped at last.· There had been heavy rain during the night.drizzle noun [uncountable] light rain with very small drops of water: · A light drizzle was falling as I left the house.shower noun [countable] a short period of rain that can be heavy or light: · More heavy showers are forecast for tonight.· a light shower of raindownpour noun [countable usually singular] a short period of very heavy rain that starts suddenly: · A sudden downpour sent us running for shelter.· a torrential downpourhail noun [uncountable] frozen rain that falls in the form of hailstones (=small balls of ice): · The hail and high winds have destroyed many of the county’s crops.sleet noun [uncountable] a mixture of snow and rain: · The rain had turned to sleet.· Sleet and snow fell.the rains noun [plural] heavy rain that falls during a particular period in the year in tropical countries: · The farmers are waiting for the rains to come.monsoon noun [countable] the heavy rain that falls between April and October in India and other southern Asian countries: · The monsoon is late this year.· the monsoon seasonrain1 nounrain2 verb
rainrain2 ●●● S3 verb VERB TABLE
rain
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | it | rains |
| Past | it | rained |
| Present perfect | it | has rained |
| Past perfect | it | had rained |
| Future | it | will rain |
| Future perfect | it | will have rained |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | it | is raining |
| Past | it | was raining |
| Present perfect | it | has been raining |
| Past perfect | it | had been raining |
| Future | it | will be raining |
| Future perfect | it | will have been raining |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- It rained all night, and half the day after.
- It was raining hard.
- Take an umbrella in case it rains.
- Think it'll rain this weekend?
- About 1.30 am we got home to Debenham, it was raining it was cold and completely desolate.
- At 7,000 metres a shower of rocks rained down on me.
- By the time John parked in Sloane Crescent the sun had vanished behind lowering cloud, and it was starting to rain.
- Earlier in the day it had been raining, now there was a high wind blowing.
- It had been raining all week and the cleared paths were slick where the rain had frozen on top of the snow.
- It had started to rain again.
- It was as though the mourning cloud that had stopped above Rehoboth had rained meanness and waiting.
- It was quiet outside, and raining.
THESAURUS
drops of water are falling from the sky: · It’s raining – you’d better take an umbrella.
British English, it’s pouring (rain) American English it is raining very heavily: · We stayed at home because it was pouring down all day.
British English informal it is raining very heavily: · Outside it was chucking it down and the streets were deserted.
very gentle rain is falling: · It’s only drizzling – let’s go for a walk anyway.
frozen rain in the form of small balls of ice are falling: · It had been hailing and the roads were still slippery.
Longman Language Activatorrain water that falls from the sky in small drops: the rain: · The rain was beating against the window.in the rain: · I like walking in the rainheavy/torrential rain (=a lot of rain): · The roads are flooded after a period of exceptionally heavy rain.· The coast has been battered by torrential rain all week.light rain (=a little rain): · Some light rain is likely in the Boston area.rain falls (=comes down from the sky): · Four inches of rain have fallen in four days.acid rain (=rain that contains harmful chemicals from industry): · When acid rain falls, it affects the pH balance of the soil.
if it rains , water falls from the sky in the form of small drops: it rains: · It rained all night, and half the day after.· Take an umbrella in case it rains.
spoken use this to say that rain is falling now: · Look, it's raining again.· Is it still raining?it's raining hard/heavily (=raining a lot): · It had been raining heavily and the ground was very soft.
spoken use this to say that it is raining very hard: · As soon as I got outside it started pouring.it's pouring with rain British: · It was pouring with rain and she had forgotten her umbrella.
spoken use this to say that it is raining a little, with very small drops of rain: · I think I'll walk to work - it's only drizzling.
American spoken use this to say that it is raining a little, usually when it will not last long: · "Is it raining out?" "It's just sprinkling."
if the weather is wet or rainy , it rains a lot: · It's been wet all week.· You should bring a waterproof jacket and strong boots in case of wet weather.· a rainy weekend in November
a short period of rain, especially light rain: · It was just a shower, so we didn't get too wetheavy showers (=when a lot of rain falls for short periods): · Heavy showers are forecast for the weekend.light showers (=when a small amount of rain falls during short periods): · The weather will be cloudy with light showers in places.
spoken wet weather outdoors: · Come on in out of the wet.
a time of the year when it rains a lot in hot countries: · The seeds must be planted in time for the rainy season.· At this time of year, before the Monsoon, the river is at its lowest.monsoon rains: · During the monsoon rains, torrents of water spill down the mountains.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadverbs I struggled back to the hut through blinding rain. He changed out of his rain-drenched clothes. The rain dripped down his neck. It’s been raining heavily all day. Heavy rain has caused flooding in many areas. the cold wind and pelting rain a shower of rain rain-sodden hair the tropical rain forestsCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
(=a lot of water comes down)· It was raining heavily when we arrived in New York.
(=without stopping)· It rained solidly every single day.
(=a little water comes down)· It’s raining slightly, but we can still go out.
verbs· It had started to rain again.
· Has it stopped raining?
phrases informal (=it is raining very hard – this phrase sounds rather old-fashioned)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I struggled back to the hut through blinding rain.· The sky had been full of rain clouds for days.
He changed out of his rain-drenched clothes. The rain dripped down his neck. It’s been raining heavily all day. Heavy rain has caused flooding in many areas. the cold wind and pelting rain British English It was pouring down with rain at three o'clock.
It was pouring down with rain at three o'clock. a shower of rain rain-sodden hair· They got caught in a terrible snow storm.
the tropical rain forests· A bleak scene outside where it was raining hard, and he felt bleak inside.· It started raining hard just then.· It was raining hard now, and the wind was screaming from the back of the ship.· Now it was raining hard outside, great heavy unmerciful rain slanting out of the sky like steel rods.· Soon it was raining hard enough, Stephen noted dismally, to keep him off the moor for the evening.· It was raining hard now, beating on the window panes, and the room was in semi-darkness.
· The, to add insult to injury, it started raining heavily.· It had been raining heavily - and it was to go on raining heavily for another nine days.· The incident occured when it was dark and raining heavily.· It was a cold, windy night, and it was raining heavily.· It began to rain heavily, and after a while Oliver opened his eyes.· It began to rain heavily, a big storm coming down fast from the north.· On my second outing with the boots I was trying to assess how watertight they were as it was raining heavily.
NOUN· She almost screamed when she felt the blows raining against it.
VERB· Paul walked about, feeling it begin to rain, not caring that the wet dripped on his suit of clothes.· It began to rain in torrents when I was let off there.· It had begun to rain since she came in.· Rolls of thunder joined the gunfire now, like giant echoes, and it began to rain, reducing visibility.· As I clicked my stopwatch at the start line it began to rain.· Almost at once, the sky began to rain witnessed meteorites.· In her mind was she comforting her cat-creature as the virus bombs began to rain down?· It had begun to rain, a cold leaden drizzle.
· By the time John parked in Sloane Crescent the sun had vanished behind lowering cloud, and it was starting to rain.· It started raining hard just then.· The, to add insult to injury, it started raining heavily.· We had dug in that night on perimeter, and it started raining.· I put my arms over my head and pieces of glass started to rain down on me.· Exactly the time the guy said fall in, it started raining.· And, by now, it had started to rain.· We had the window open, and it had just started to rain the lightest rain imaginable.
· The pavements were wet when in under an hour they reached Karlovy Vary, but for the moment it had stopped raining.· It seems to have stopped raining, but I open my umbrella anyway and head toward my car.· It had stopped raining by the morning.· In Newburgh it had stopped raining.· It had stopped raining, but the sky still looked like cement.· The first day at the resort, it never stopped raining.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► rain (down) blows/blows rain down► it never rains but it poursPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► it is pissing down (with rain)
1 it rains if it rains, drops of water fall from clouds in the sky: - But the next day it rains.
- He says the sun will only shine on him if it rains for at least a month.
- If it rains, the programme will be aerobics, papiermâché mask making, craft work and painting etc.
- If it rains, there will be aerobics and make up morning, followed by indoor cycling proficiency.
- It's such a clich, but boy, it sure seems like it rains every year.
- It is a city more in tune with outdoor recreation than cultural institutions, but it rains there.
- They have a low, vaulted ceiling and damp, grimy walls which run with water when it rains.
- Water gushes through the roof when it rains.
- He feels like a fool in his virtual reality goggles as he trudges through the driving rain to the parked aircraft.
- In the face of the hard, driving snow, the stage slowed.
- Inside, peace reigns, even in driving rain.
- The air was full of driving rain as Jack climbed the hill.
- The darkness was so complete that no one could have seen her through the driving rain and almost instantly the house disappeared.
- The somber job was made more difficult by driving snow and subfreezing temperatures.
- There was continuous driving rain, and a cold that numbed me.
- They carried parasols and held them against the driving snow as they minced along in three-inch clogs.
- I'm sorry but I'm busy on Saturday - can I take a rain check?
- The warning voice could go take a rain check, she thought.
- A few spots of rain fell on Claire.
- As they passed through the town of Isserre, spots of rain spat on to the windscreen.
- But although it was early the sky had become quite dark and he felt a few spots of rain.
- But most areas did avoid the rain apart from a few spots of rain over the islands.
- As El Ni o ebbs away, drought follows the torrential rain.
- Bob Weber's house south of Larimore has had water to the top of the basement since last week's torrential rains.
- Five target fish were nominated for the second day as the anglers struggled to overcome persistent torrential rain and buffeting winds.
- He spent many nights sleeping in an open orchard in torrential rain until he located a small cave.
- It follows torrential rain yesterday, which flooded roads, and caused chaos as hundreds of commuters were stuck in traffic jams.
- My mum and dad drove us to the airport in the torrential rain and wind.
- The weather was appalling, torrential rain, heavy winds and icy temperatures - ideal for sprinting!
- When the land is exposed to the harsh tropical sun and torrential rain, it quickly becomes infertile.
Outside it was still raining. It’s starting to rain.rain heavily/hard It must have rained quite hard last night.it’s raining cats and dogs spoken (=it is raining very hard)2rain (down) blows/blows rain down if you rain blows onto someone, you hit them many times: She attacked the man, raining blows on his head and shoulders.3it never rains but it pours spoken used to say that as soon as one thing goes wrong, a lot of other things go wrong as wellCOLLOCATIONSadverbsit rains heavily/hard (=a lot of water comes down)· It was raining heavily when we arrived in New York.it rains non-stop/solidly/steadily (=without stopping)· It rained solidly every single day.it rains slightly/lightly (=a little water comes down)· It’s raining slightly, but we can still go out.verbsit starts raining/it starts to rain· It had started to rain again.it stops raining· Has it stopped raining?phrasesit is raining cats and dogs informal (=it is raining very hard – this phrase sounds rather old-fashioned)THESAURUSit’s raining drops of water are falling from the sky: · It’s raining – you’d better take an umbrella.it’s pouring (down) British English, it’s pouring (rain) American English it is raining very heavily: · We stayed at home because it was pouring down all day.it’s chucking it down British English informal it is raining very heavily: · Outside it was chucking it down and the streets were deserted.it’s drizzling very gentle rain is falling: · It’s only drizzling – let’s go for a walk anyway.it’s hailing frozen rain in the form of small balls of ice are falling: · It had been hailing and the roads were still slippery.rain down phrasal verb to fall in large quantitiesrain down on Bombs rained down on the city.be rained off British English, be rained out American English phrasal verb if an event or activity is rained off or rained out, it has to stop because there is too much rain: The match was rained off.- generalize
- generalized
- general knowledge
- generally
- General Medical Council
- General Mills
- General Motors
- general practice
- general practitioner
- general public
- general-purpose
- generalship
- general staff
- general store
- general strike
- General Synod
- generate
- generation
- generation 1.5
- unrepeatable
- unrepentant
- unrepentantly
- unreported
- unrepresentative
- unrequited