Rain

rān, n. water from the clouds in drops: a shower: a fall of any substance through the atmosphere in the manner of rain.— v.i. to fall from the clouds: to drop like rain.— v.t. to pour like rain.— ns. Rain′band , a dark band in the solar spectrum; Rain′-bird , a bird, like the Rain′-crow , supposed to foretell rain by its cries and actions; Rain′bow , the brilliant-coloured bow or arch seen when rain is falling opposite the sun, called lunar rainbow when formed by the moon; Rain′bow-dart′er , the soldier-fish.— adjs. Rain′bowed , formed with, or like, a rainbow; Rain′bow-tint′ed , having tints like those of a rainbow: iridescent.— ns. Rain′bow-trout , a variety of the Californian salmon; Rain′-cham′ber , an attachment to a furnace in which the fumes of any metal are condensed; Rain′-chart , -map , a chart giving information as to the distribution of rain in any part of the world; Rain′-cloud , a cloud in meteorology called nimbus; Rain′drop , a drop of rain; Rain′fall , a fall of rain: the amount of water that falls in a given time in the form of rain; Rain′-gauge , an instrument for measuring the quantity of rain that falls; Rain′ine , the state of being rainy.— adj. Rain′le , without rain.— ns. Rain′-mak′er , -doc′tor , a sorcerer, as those of Africa, profe ing to bring rain; Rain′-pour , a heavy rainfall; Rain′-print , one of the small pits seen on the surfaces of some argillaceous rocks, and believed to be the impre ions of raindrops.— adjs. Rain′-proof , -tight , impervious to rain.— ns. Rain′storm ; Rain′-tree , the genisaro of South America; Rain′-wa′ter , water which falls in rain from the clouds.— adj. Rain′y , abounding with rain: showery.— Rain cats and dogs (see Cat ).— A rainy day ( fig. ), a time of need or hardship: future want or need; The former and the latter rain , Palestine, the rain in spring and in autumn: rain in its season. [A.S. regn , rén , rain; Dut. and Ger. regen , Ice. regn .]