drain
A conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume; a plughole (UK)
Noun 4 meanings
A conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume; a plughole (UK)
“The drain in the kitchen sink is clogged.”
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.
A natural or artificial watercourse which drains a tract of land.
“;;Saganing Drain, Vermuyden's Drain, the South Drain river, Najafgarh drain”
Something consuming resources and providing nothing in return.
“That rental property is a drain on our finances.”
Verb 4 meanings
To lose liquid.
“The clogged sink drained slowly.”
To flow gradually.
“The water of low ground drains off.”
To cause liquid to flow out of.
“Please drain the sink. It’s full of dirty water.”
To convert a perennially wet place into a dry one.
“They had to drain the swampy land before the parking lot could be built.”
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English *dreinen, from Old English drēahnian, from Proto-West Germanic *drauhnōn, from Proto-Germanic *drauhnōną, from *draugiz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewgʰ-, from *dʰer-. Akin to Old English drūgian (“to dry up”), Old English drūgaþ (“dryness, drought”), Old English drȳġe (“dry”).
Similar and opposite words
DRAIN at a glance
DRAIN has 5 letters and scores 6 points in Scrabble (D 2 + R 1 + A 1 + I 1 + N 1) and 7 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #6,252 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with drain
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