rainbow
RAYN-boh
Rainbow (noun) means an arc of spectrum colours that appears in the sky when sunlight passes through raindrops. Example: “We saw a double rainbow shining over the sea this morning.”
noun
1
An arc of spectrum colours that appears in the sky when sunlight passes through raindrops.
"We saw a double rainbow shining over the sea this morning."
"Children ran outside to look for the rainbow as the rain stopped."
"A rainbow arched over the valley after the storm passed."
2
A wide, varied mix of different things or people.
"The market stall sold a rainbow of fruit, from deep purple plums to yellow lemons."
"The classroom was a rainbow of languages, with pupils from many countries."
"The festival brought together a rainbow of cultures and cuisines."
adj
1
Relating to or symbolising the LGBT community.
"He wore a rainbow lanyard to show his support for equality."
"The shop window displayed a rainbow banner during the pride celebrations."
"The parade was awash with rainbow flags."
How to use rainbow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe multicoloured arc you see in the sky after rain — also used to describe a colourful variety of things, or as a symbol of LGBT pride.
Common pairings
rainbow flag
chase rainbows
a rainbow of colours
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Word forms
- Plural
- rainbows
- Third person singular
- rainbows
- Past tense
- rainbowed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We saw a double _____ shining over the sea this morning.
Etymology
From Old English reġnboga, literally "rain" plus "bow" (as in an arch) — a very old, straightforward compound shared across the Germanic languages.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “rainbow” mean?
The word “rainbow” means an arc of spectrum colours that appears in the sky when sunlight passes through raindrops. In plain terms, the multicoloured arc you see in the sky after rain — also used to describe a colourful variety of things, or as a symbol of LGBT pride.
How do you pronounce “rainbow”?
“Rainbow” is pronounced RAYN-boh (/ˈɹeɪnboʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “rainbow” in a sentence?
Here is “rainbow” used in a sentence: “A rainbow arched over the valley after the storm passed.”
What is another word for “rainbow”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rainbow” include multihued and polychromatic.
What part of speech is “rainbow”?
Depending on how it is used, “rainbow” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “rainbow” come from?
The word “rainbow” comes from Old English. From Old English reġnboga, literally "rain" plus "bow" (as in an arch) — a very old, straightforward compound shared across the Germanic languages.
Is “rainbow” a common word?
“Rainbow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “rainbow” have?
“Rainbow” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an arc of spectrum colours that appears in the sky when sunlight passes through raindrops.
What causes a rainbow to appear in the sky?
A rainbow appears when sunlight passes through raindrops, which bend and split the light into its separate spectrum colours. The result is an arc of colour in the sky, usually seen when the sun shines during or just after rain and the observer has the sun behind them.
What are the colours of a rainbow in order?
A rainbow is traditionally described as having seven colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. The order is often remembered with the initials ROYGBIV or the phrase "Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain", with red on the outer edge of the arc.
Can rainbow describe things other than the weather phenomenon?
Yes. Rainbow is often used figuratively for a wide, varied mix of things or people, as in "a rainbow of flavours" or "a rainbow coalition". It is also used as an adjective relating to or symbolising the LGBT community.
Why is rainbow associated with the LGBT community?
The multicoloured rainbow flag is a widely recognised symbol of LGBT pride, and from that use rainbow has become an adjective meaning relating to or symbolising the LGBT community. The flag's many colours are often read as representing the diversity of the community, and the adjective now appears in phrases such as "rainbow families".
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