<B>rain, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>water falling in drops from the clouds. Rain is formed from moisture condensed from water vapor in the atmosphere. <BR> <I>Ex. The rain spattered the window.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>the fall of such drops; shower or rainstorm. <BR> <I>Ex. a hard rain.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) a thick, fast fall of anything. <BR> <I>Ex. a rain of bullets, a rain of tears.</I> <DD><I>v.i. </I> <B>1. </B>to fall in drops of water. <BR> <I>Ex. It rained all day.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to fall like rain. <BR> <I>Ex. Sparks rained down from the burning roof.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>to pour down rain. <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to send down (rain). <BR> <I>Ex. I will rain upon him ... an overflowing rain, and great hailstones (Ezekiel 38:22).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative:) <BR> <I>Ex. The children rained flowers on the May queen.</I> (SYN) shower. <BR><I>expr. <B>it never rains but it pours,</B> </I>events of a kind, especially misfortunes, come all together. <BR> <I>Ex. As it never rains but it pours, news of another disaster was rife in the city in the evening (Earl Dunmore).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>rain off,</B> </I>(British.) to rain out. <BR> <I>Ex. An open-air meeting was rained off, but pickets patrolled the dock entrances (London Times).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>rain out,</B> </I>to cancel because of rain. <BR> <I>Ex. The second game of the scheduled double-header was rained out in the third inning with Cincinnati leading (New York Times).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>the rains,</B> </I>the rainy season; the seasonal rainfalls. <BR> <I>Ex. The heavy tropical rains are usually confined to definite periods (Thomas Henry Huxley).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="rainband">
<B>rainband, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a dark band in the solar spectrum, due to the water vapor in the atmosphere. </DL>
<A NAME="rainbarrel">
<B>rainbarrel, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a barrel used to collect rain water for drinking or washing. </DL>
<A NAME="rainbird">
<B>rainbird, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> any one of several kinds of birds, such as the green woodpecker or the Jamaican cuckoo, supposed to foretell rain by its cries or actions. <BR> <I>Ex. From a group of trees came the liquid call of the rainbird (Cape Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="rainbow">
<B>rainbow, </B>noun, adjective, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a bow or arch of six colors seen sometimes in the sky, or in mist or spray when the sun shines on it from behind the observer; iris. A rainbow shows all the colors of the spectrum: violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. <BR> <I>Ex. The rainbow, one of the most beautiful of natural phenomena, is a spectrum produced by the dispersion of sunlight by spherical raindrops (John Charles Duncan). There was a rainbow round about the throne (Revelation 4:3).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>anything similar, such as a lunar rainbow or moonbow. <DD><B> 3. </B><B>=rainbow trout.</B> <DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>having to do with a rainbow. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) having many colors like a rainbow. <BR> <I>Ex. the endless parrot-tribe with their rainbow hues (William H. Prescott).</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> to brighten or span with a rainbow. <BR> <I>Ex. (Figurative.) The great bridge rainbows the skyline (Manchester Guardian Weekly).</I> <DD><I>v.i. </I> to take the form or color pattern of a rainbow. <BR> <I>Ex. The sails ... rainbowed with small signalling flags (London Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="rainbowcoalition">
<B>rainbow coalition,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S.) a coalition of disadvantaged groups for political action. <BR> <I>Ex. Unity among the white poor, minorities, and women will create a "Rainbow Coalition" that can have a significant impact on our process of government (Alvin A. Poussaint).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="rainbowdarter">
<B>rainbow darter,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a brightly-colored darter, found in the tributaries of the Mississippi River and eastward. </DL>
<A NAME="rainbowfish">
<B>rainbow fish,</B> <B>=guppy.</B></DL>
<A NAME="rainbowhorse">
<B>rainbow horse,</B> <B>=Appaloosa.</B></DL>
<A NAME="rainbowlorikeet">
<B>rainbow lorikeet,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a lorikeet of many bright colors, found from the East Indies and Australia east to New Hebrides. </DL>
<A NAME="rainbowrunner">
<B>rainbow runner,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a carangoid fish of the Indian and Pacific oceans, about four feet long, and having a very bright blue color on the back and a yellow stripe bordered with blue along the side of the body. </DL>
<A NAME="rainbowsnake">
<B>rainbow snake,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a burrowing snake of the southeastern United States which has a red belly and red or yellow striped back; hoop snake. </DL>
<A NAME="rainbowtrout">
<B>rainbow trout,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a large trout which is native to western North America and has been introduced in other areas, named for its bright pinkish coloring. A rainbow trout that has entered or returned from the sea is called a steelhead. </DL>
<A NAME="rainbowy">
<B>rainbowy, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or like a rainbow. </DL>
<A NAME="raincape">
<B>raincape, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a waterproof cape for protection from rain. </DL>
<A NAME="raincheck">
<B>rain check,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a ticket for future use, given to the spectators at a baseball game or other outdoor performance stopped by rain. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative:) <BR> <I>Ex. I can't accept your luncheon invitation today, but I'll gladly take a rain check on it.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="raincloud">
<B>rain cloud,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a cloud from which rain falls. </DL>
<A NAME="raincoat">
<B>raincoat, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a waterproof coat worn for protection from rain. </DL>
<A NAME="raincoated">
<B>raincoated, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> wearing a raincoat. </DL>
<A NAME="raincrow">
<B>rain crow,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a North American cuckoo, especially the black-billed cuckoo, so called from the belief that its frequent calls predict rain. </DL>
<A NAME="raindance">
<B>rain dance,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a ritual dance, performed by many primitive peoples, to bring rain. </DL>
<A NAME="raindrop">
<B>raindrop, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a drop of rain. <BR> <I>Ex. Raindrops fall at a speed of about 500 to 1,000 feet a minute (Science News Letter).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="rainfall">
<B>rainfall, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a shower of rain. <BR> <I>Ex. The existence of both crystals and droplets within one cloud will always greatly facilitate rainfall (Eric Kraus).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>the amount of water in the form of rain, sleet, or snow that falls within a given time and area. <BR> <I>Ex. The yearly rainfall in New York is much greater than that in Arizona.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="rainforest">
<B>rain forest,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a large, very dense forest in a region where rain is very heavy throughout the year. Rain forests are usually in tropical areas, but sometimes in northern areas, such as southeastern Alaska. <BR> <I>Ex. The ... dense, steamy rain forests of Australia and New Guinea, where the sun seldom penetrates (Scientific American).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="rainfowl">
<B>rainfowl, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a bird supposed to foretell rain by its cries or actions, especially by being noisy or uneasy. </DL>
<A NAME="raingauge">
<B>rain gauge,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an instrument for measuring rainfall. </DL>
<A NAME="rainily">
<B>rainily, </B>adverb.<DL COMPACT><DD> in a rainy manner; with rain falling. </DL>
<A NAME="raininess">
<B>raininess, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a rainy condition. </DL>
<A NAME="rainless">
<B>rainless, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> without rain. <BR> <I>Ex. a rainless region or season.</I> noun <B>rainlessness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="rainmaker">
<B>rainmaker, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a person who tries to produce rain, especially by supernatural or artificial means. <DD><B> 2. </B>(U.S. Slang.) a business executive, especially a partner in a law firm, who has political connections and promises to use them to bring in business. </DL>
<A NAME="rainmaking">
<B>rainmaking, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> the producing of rain by artificial or supernatural means. One method is to scatter crystals of silver iodide or dry ice into a cloud from an airplane. <DD><I>adj. </I> producing or attempting to produce rain. <BR> <I>Ex. rainmaking ceremonies.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="rainout">
<B>rainout, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1a. </B>the postponement or cancellation of an outdoor event, such as a ball game or concert, because of rain. <BR> <I>Ex. In case of a rainout, the next two nights are available (New York Times).</I> <DD><B> b. </B>an event that israined out. <DD><B> 2. </B>precipitation of radioactive water droplets due to an underwater nuclear explosion or unfavorable atmospheric conditions. </DL>
<A NAME="rainproof">
<B>rainproof, </B>adjective, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> that will not let rain through; impervious to rain; waterproof. <DD><I>v.t. </I> to make impervious to rain. </DL>
<A NAME="rains">
<B>rains, </B>noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD> See under <B>rain.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="rainshower">
<B>rainshower, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a shower of rain. <BR> <I>Ex. The Weather Bureau described it as "a good rainshower," but said only .02 inches had been measured (New York Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="rainspout">
<B>rainspout, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a spout draining the gutter of a roof; downspout. </DL>
<A NAME="rainsquall">
<B>rainsquall, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a sudden, violent wind accompanied by rain. <BR> <I>Ex. Recovery helicopters ... flapped blindly through rainsqualls and fog in a vain search for the spacecraft (Time).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="rainstorm">
<B>rainstorm, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a storm with much rain. </DL>
<A NAME="rainsuit">
<B>rainsuit, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a suit made to be worn in rain or rainy weather. <BR> <I>Ex. ... poplin rainsuits with matching sou'westers (Sunday Telegraph).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="rainswept">
<B>rainswept, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> exposed to driving rain. <BR> <I>Ex. a rainswept courtyard.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="raintree">
<B>rain tree,</B> <B>=monkeypod.</B></DL>
<A NAME="rainwash">
<B>rainwash, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the action of washing along or away by the force of rain. <BR> <I>Ex. Rainwash on hill slopes marks the initial stage in the movement of the surface waters that are gathered later into well-defined streams and rivers (Gilluly, Waters, and Woodford).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>displacement of soil, sand, or rocks, brought about by rainfall. <BR> <I>Ex. Shells were also found in pre-Roman rainwash at Northfleet (London Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="rainwater">
<B>rain water,</B> or <B>rainwater, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> water that has fallen as rain. </DL>
