1Moisture condensed from the atmosphere that falls visibly in separate drops.

1. 1.1rains Falls of rain.
   the plants were washed away by some unusually heavy rains

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The climate varies greatly from north to south, but rains fall throughout the country from December to April.
   • La Niña dominated the period 1973-75, and the unusual rains continued.
   • Fall rains are sometimes unpredictable, even in the wettest climates.
   • This generated frequent heavy rains and fierce westerly gales: in some coastal areas there was significant wind damage as well as flooding.
   • Heavy earth-moving equipment sent in to clear the mudflows are failing to make headway as torrential rains continue to fall in the region.
   • The Eastern Province Agricultural Union president welcomed the good rains which had fallen throughout the province.
   • Exceptionally good rains fell once more in 1889 giving much needed hope to farmers who had survived until that time.
   • It may also be possible to reduce cloud cover by seeding clouds to cause rains to fall in areas where the water is needed.
   • The heavy rains over the past week continue to cause doubts about yet another summer like last year.
   • It's that time of year - as March rains continue to fall - when many people start finalising plans for their summer holidays.
   • After their spring resurrection, they abound in temporary bodies of water left by the previous fall's rains and by melting snow.
   • Good general rains fell in 1996, easing the situation until the onset of the next El Niño in 1997.
   • Full rivers and overflowing dams have been reported in the northern region of the province as rains continue to fall.
   • The drought loosened its grip in the southeastern States in November, and more emphatically so in January 1941, when heavy rains fell.
   • A high precipitation super-cell produces very heavy rains, large hail, downbursts and tornadoes.
   • During climate extremes, whether droughts or flooding rains, those on the land feel it most.
   • Fall rains were scant, but of some benefit to a few farmers.
   • The city's distinct terrain makes it particularly vulnerable to the storm surges, heavy rains and high winds of a hurricane.
   • In July 1870 very heavy rains fell flooding many of the creeks and nearly twenty Aborigines drowned when the Kopperamanna Creek flooded.
   • These provinces have the best rainfall, but steep gradients and poor farming ensure that, when rains do fall, rivers run brown.

   Synonyms

   rains, drizzle, damp weather, rainy weather, showery weather, wet weather, precipitation, spray, dew, damp
2. 1.2in singular A large or overwhelming quantity of things that fall or descend.
   he fell under the rain of blows

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Then comes a rain of law suits - he is suing people for a hundred million rupees.
   • Everyone hung their heads in reverence, and awaited the moment when the rain of meteors would came down.
   • During the second day of competition, the rain of gold medals continued.
   • His hand went up to his face and before he had a chance to wonder what had caused it, a rain of small pebbles fell from the sky.
   • And then there is Tessie, taking the rain of abuse and indignities with long-suffering resignation.
   • Most of them don't make past a few feet, knocked off by a constant rain of debris, but it is only a matter of time before some begin to reach the summit.
   • At that point, a rain of fire and bullets hit us, shutting up forever the cheerful voices of a few minutes earlier.
   • I suppose Jin thinks I am a weeping waif, looking for a poor soul to shed her troubles on in a rain of sobs and runny noses.
   • This year, he received a strong response from his fans, but nothing like the rain of adulation he generated last year.
   • An expression might give way to a rain of thoughts.
   • Our planet is incessantly bombarded with a rain of cosmic rays, charged stable particles, such as protons and electrons.
   • The Cityboys formed a rough circle, ignoring the rain of lead that fell on them from above.
   • The city motorway towards the south was transformed into a field of rubble by a rain of dust and bricks, which damaged numerous cars and injured their drivers.
   • She ran out of the shroud of dust and towards the helicopters while dodging the rain of bullets that came behind.
   • Few of us walk into the office to a rain of boos or are subjected nightly to the possibility of public failure and humiliation.
   • Within moments, all ran for cover as a rain of debris began falling.
   • If you're close enough, the first sound is that of an earsplitting blast and the sounds that follow are of a rain of glass, shrapnel and other sharp things.
   • Her eyes popped in surprise as a rain of sparks cascaded from my hair.
   • She gave him a pleading look that he answered with a rain of kisses.
   • Under a constant rain of enemy fire, my plane is hit again and again.

   Synonyms

   shower, deluge, flood, torrent, spate, avalanche, outpouring, rush, flurry

1Rain falls.

1. 1.1literary (of the sky, the clouds, etc.) send down rain.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • I have an image of my house with a small cloud continuously raining over it like the house where the Munster's lived.
   • It was an overcast day, the light hidden behind grey clouds that smothered the sky and threatened to rain.
   • The skies thundered and rained, and its color was a combination of what seemed to be every color known to man.
   • Farther away, they could see a low patch of clouds in the sky that was raining.
   • I kept staring up, my head bent back and stared as the smoky gray clouds rained on me.
2. 1.2with adverbial of direction (of objects) fall in large or overwhelming quantities.
   bombs rained down

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The waiting drivers clap and cheer appreciatively, ducking the occasional piece of burning debris raining from the sky.
   • As the fighting factions are physically restrained, the verbal blows rain down harder than ever.
   • But then the ship bucked as missiles rained from above.
   • No one knows the total number, but upwards of 2000 Afghans fleeing the bombs and missiles raining down inside their country have come here.
   • It was November 19, 1940, and the bombs rained down for hours and hours.
   • A brass band played and confetti rained over the site after workers poured the last batch of concrete.
   • The sun was hot by now, the wind had become brisk, and the melting edges sent mini-avalanches of gravel raining down.
   • As the bombs rained down I instinctively dropped to ground, the kids immediately followed suit.
   • Unlike Kuiper belt comets, Oort cloud comets can rain down on the inner solar system from any angle and any direction.
   • He scrambled to lie flat on his stomach in the car while shards of debris rained from the skies.
   • Bombs burst from above like rolling cracks of thunder as shrapnel rained down from the sky, expended from death black clouds.
   • But the next assault is just around the corner, and the band's talent for stringing out the quiet moments makes the next shower of blows rain down even harder.
   • Blows rained down on me from all sides and I fell to the floor under a merciless avalanche of abuse.
   • Fearing the worst, the victim curled into a ball to try to protect himself from the blows raining on him.
   • The bombs will still be raining down there and terrified people on leaky boats will still be arriving.
   • As we speak, people are forced to deal with our government in the form of bombs raining down on their homes.
   • He yelled at her while bullets were still raining down on him.
   • Trapped Rafah residents huddled in the innermost rooms of their homes as bullets rained outside.
   • He began stomping his feet on the floor sending plaster raining down on the man and the woman.
   • With bombs raining down about their heads and millions fighting on the battlefield, our grandparents knew where they were.

   Synonyms

   fall, pour down, rain down, drop, shower

   shower, pour, drop
3. 1.3it rains —", "it is raining —, etc.with object Used to convey that a specified thing is falling in large or overwhelming quantities.
   it was just raining glass

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Above was nothing, but a pale pink glow even as it rained flowers.
   • This night couldn't get any better if it rained rubies and diamonds.
   • There were also outfits that let them kick their heels up ‘when it's raining men’.
   • I guess it was raining men in that decade of my mind.
   • After decades of drought, it seems it is raining democracy in this region.
   • Along with the gusty winds, torrential rains and the punishing power shutdowns, it rained snakes of all sizes and colours on the city.
   • It looks like it's raining crayons, as I wait for my elevator to arrive.
4. 1.4with object Send down in large or overwhelming quantities.
   she rained blows onto him

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The CCTV images show him desperately trying to defend himself as blows are rained down on his head by a man wielding a 4ft pickaxe handle.
   • Who can forget the napalm bombs that rained terror on the refugee camps around the city when scouts resolved to strike at the source of enemy fire?
   • As the rebels rain mortar bombs tens of thousands of people have been sent fleeing to various parts of the city perceived to be safe.
   • Pupils got a very visual display of the armour's strength as blow after blow was rained down on chest plates.
   • Petrol bombs, paint bombs and blast bombs were rained down on officers and many surrounding towns.
   • Instantly the roles were reversed as Bjorn dove upon Sten, moving to pin Sten's arms with his legs as he rained blows down on his opponent's with both fists.
   • An elderly couple who fought off a gang of masked robbers at their home say they feared for their lives as the attackers rained blows on them with baseball bats.
   • But they became the targets for the suicide bomber, as more rebels rained mortar bombs on to the scene.
   • I could imagine these planes swooping on the city raining down missiles and bombs on dictator and his followers.
   • Nobody has been left more shaken than a teenage girl woken from her sleep by the sounds of blows being rained on a man outside her home.
   • At the same time, he rained kicks and blows down upon it, tears streaming down his cheeks.
   • A security guard has told a jury how blows were rained on him by a robber who made off with £40,000 cash.
   • The store's staff and customers looked on in horror as the man rained repeated blows upon the boy during the sustained attack.
   • Connolly rained his heaviest blows on those judges he identified as hacks for corrupt political machines.
   • He rained blows down upon the door, and told her he'd be back.
   • What better way to give the powers that be an excuse to rain nightstick blows on the heads of the vast majority of us who believe in non violent protest action?
   • Customers queueing at a nearby chip shop prevented the motorist being more seriously injured by the man after rushing to help as blows were rained on his head and body.