drain
drayn
Drain (noun) means a pipe or channel that carries away unwanted liquid. Example: “A small drain in the shower floor carries the water away.”
noun
1
A pipe or channel that carries away unwanted liquid.
"A small drain in the shower floor carries the water away."
"Someone poured oil down the kitchen drain and blocked it."
"Leaves clogged the drain outside the house."
2
Something that steadily consumes resources without giving anything back.
"Keeping that old car has become a drain on our monthly budget."
"The outdated software is a constant drain on everyone's time."
"The failing project became a drain on the company's budget."
verb
1
To cause liquid to flow away, or for liquid to flow away, from something.
"Let the bath drain completely before you scrub the tub."
"Drain the pasta before adding the sauce."
"Water drained slowly from the flooded field."
2
To gradually use up someone's energy, money, or resources.
"Constant worry can drain your strength before the day has even begun."
"Expensive repairs slowly drained their savings over the winter."
"The long commute drains her energy every day."
How to use drain
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- drains
- Third person singular
- drains
- Past tense
- drained
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A small _____ in the shower floor carries the water away.
Etymology
From Old English dreahnian, related to Old English drygan, "to dry."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for drain
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.
