English Explanatory Dictionary

drain

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume; a plughole (UK)
  2. An access point or conduit for rainwater that drains directly downstream in a (drainage) basin without going through sewers or water treatment in order to prevent or belay floods.
  3. A natural or artificial watercourse which drains a tract of land.
  4. Something consuming resources and providing nothing in return.
  5. An act of urination.
  6. One terminal of a field effect transistor (FET).
  7. An outhole.
  8. A drink.
verb
  1. To lose liquid.
  2. To flow gradually.
  3. To cause liquid to flow out of.
  4. To convert a perennially wet place into a dry one.
  5. To deplete of energy or resources.
  6. To draw off by degrees; to cause to flow gradually out or off; hence, to exhaust.
  7. To filter.
  8. To fall off the bottom of the playfield.
  9. To drink.
  10. To make a shot.
name
  1. A surname.
  2. A city in Douglas County, Oregon, United States.

Pronunciation

/dɹeɪn/ en-us-drain.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Back ache-drain.wav /dɹiːn/

Word forms

drain drains drein dreen draining drained

Etymology

From Middle English *dreinen, from Old English drēahnian, from Proto-West Germanic *drauhnōn, from Proto-Germanic *drauhnōną, from Proto-Germanic *draugiz. Akin to Old English drūgian (“to dry up”), Old English drūgaþ (“dryness, drought”), Old English drȳġe (“dry”). More at dry.

Synonyms

bleed

Derived words

air drain brain drain catchdrain circle the drain counterdrain down the drain drainboard Drainbow drain cleaner drain cock draincock Drainer drain fever drain field drain fly drainful drainless drainlike drain-like drainmaker draino drain pan drainpipe drain pipe drainplug drain plug drain pump draintile draintrap drainwork French drain go down the drain Jackson-Pratt drain JP drain laugh like a drain like a rat up a drain Penrose drain pour down the drain reverse brain drain rubble drain spray drain storm drain table drain top-drain variance drain well drain subdrain underdrain undrain drainable drainage drain away drainback drainee draining drain out drain the dragon drain the lizard drain the main vein drain the python
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