lexis4u: Rain

Thematic Vocabulary Unit Nº 062 v.04

Main Definitions

rain 1 / rainfall |n| drops of fresh water that fall as precipitation from clouds.
"The rain had not stopped for days."
rain 2 |n| water that is condensed from the aqueous vapor in the atmosphere and falls to earth in drops more than 1 / 50 in. (0.5 mm) in diameter.
"It’s raining"
precipitation |n| rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground.
"In places where the warmer air extends to the ground, the precipitation will fall as rain."

Rain Elements

condensation |n| water that collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it.
"Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces by adding insulation."
cloud |n| a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the ground.
"The sun had disappeared behind a cloud."
drop |n| a small round or pear-shaped portion of liquid that hangs or falls or adheres to a surface.
"The first drops of rain splashed on the ground."
moisture |n| water or other liquid diffused in a small quantity as vapor, within a solid, or condensed on a surface.
"As the place fills up, the extra moisture in the air condenses on the roof."
raindrop |n| a single drop of rain.
"The first thunderclap brought down raindrops and hailstones as big as marbles."
steam |n| the vapor into which water is converted when heated, forming a white mist of minute water droplets in the air.
"He came out of the bathroom a few minutes after trailing steam and heated droplets of water."

Kinds Of Rains

dew |n| tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces at night, when atmospheric vapor condenses.
"The grass was wet with dew."
downpour |n| a heavy rainfall.
"A sudden downpour had filled the gutters and drains."
drizzle |n| a fine light rain.
"It's started to drizzle."
pouring |n| when it is raining very hard you can say that is pouring.
rainstorm |n| a storm with heavy rain.
"El Nino will lead to abnormal weather and the increase of tropical cyclones will bring more rainstorms to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River."
rainfall 1 |n| amount of rain.
"The officials said that if the plum rains bring disappointing rainfalls in the south, leaving farmland fallow in the summer would be the only way to prevent drought conditions."
rainfall 2 |n| shower.
shower |n| a brief and usually light fall of rain, hail, sleet, or snow.
"It was very cold with light snow showers , sleet and rain, but the pitch, despite being heavy, was in remarkably good condition."
sleet |n| a form of precipitation consisting of ice pellets, often mixed with rain or snow.
"Eric headed home alone, I needed time to think, the sleet had turned to rain, but I didn't mind being wet."
squall |n| a sudden strong, violent wind, usually in a rain or snow storm.
"Low clouds and squalls of driving rain."

Rainstorm

cloudburst |n| a sudden, violent rainstorm.
"It has survived thunderstorms and cloudbursts and has taken place every year except during the two world wars."
cyclone / typhoon |n| a type of violent tropical storm with very strong winds.
hurricane |n| a storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean.
"In fact, tropical storms or hurricanes have ended many droughts in Texas, and other parts of the world."
monsoon |n| a period of very heavy rain in particular countries, or the wind that brings this rain.

Terms Related to Rain

damp / wet |n| moisture diffused through the air or a solid substance or condensed on a surface, typically with detrimental or unpleasant effects.
"Hotter, drier summers will bring an increased risk of property subsidence, while wetter winters may cause damp , condensation and mould problems."
drought |n| a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall; a shortage of water resulting from this.
"Chinese officials say cloud seeding has helped to relieve severe droughts and water shortages in cities."
flood / deluge / inundation |n| an overflowing of a large amount of water beyond its normal confines, especially over what is normally dry land.
"In a thousand miles the flood destroyed every bridge."
"Rain poured down in torrents."
"But the scale of last year's flooding surpassed these previous deluges , with 45 square kilometres of land submerged."
lightning |n| the occurrence of a natural electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud, accompanied by a bright flash and typically also thunder.
"A tremendous flash of lightning."
rainbow |n| an arch of colours visible in the sky, caused by the refraction and dispersion of the sun's light by water droplets in the atmosphere.
ray |n| each of the lines in which light (and heat) may seem to stream from the sun or any luminous body, or pass through a small opening.
"A ray of sunlight came through the window."
storm |n| a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow.
"These kinds of storms can produce rain, hail snow, thunder and lightning."