noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

drain

drayn

Drain (noun) means a pipe or channel that carries away unwanted liquid. Example: “Leaves clogged the drain outside the house.”

noun

A pipe or channel that carries away unwanted liquid.

"Leaves clogged the drain outside the house."

Something that steadily consumes resources without giving anything back.

"The failing project became a drain on the company's budget."

verb

To cause liquid to flow away, or for liquid to flow away, from something.

"Drain the pasta before adding the sauce."

"Water drained slowly from the flooded field."

To gradually use up someone's energy, money, or resources.

"The long commute drains her energy every day."

How to use drain

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo let liquid flow away, or to slowly use up energy or money.

Common pairings

drain the pool drain of energy a drain on resources down the drain

Word forms

drained past tense, drains plural, Drains plural, drains singular

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Leaves clogged the _____ outside the house.

Etymology

From Old English dreahnian, related to Old English drygan, "to dry."

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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empty deplete exhaust sap siphon bleed

Related words

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Rhymes for drain

ain rain pain lain gain main vain fain bain Iain Jain Cain

See all rhymes for drain →

Frequently asked questions

What does “drain” mean?

The word “drain” means a pipe or channel that carries away unwanted liquid. In plain terms, to let liquid flow away, or to slowly use up energy or money.

How do you pronounce “drain”?

“Drain” is pronounced drayn (/dɹiːn/ in IPA).

How do you use “drain” in a sentence?

Here is “drain” used in a sentence: “Leaves clogged the drain outside the house.”

What part of speech is “drain”?

Depending on how it is used, “drain” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “drain” come from?

The word “drain” comes from Old English. From Old English dreahnian, related to Old English drygan, "to dry.".

Is “drain” a common word?

“Drain” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “drain” have?

“Drain” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a pipe or channel that carries away unwanted liquid.

What is the difference between a drain and a sewer?

A drain is a pipe or channel that carries unwanted liquid away from a building or area, while a sewer is the larger system that collects wastewater from many drains. In UK plumbing terminology, a drain typically serves a single property and a sewer serves more than one.

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