drain

plural drains · alternative obsolete drein · alternative Appalachia dreen

1. CanadaUSA conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume; a plughole (UK)

   drain hole

   3 more examples

   The drain in the kitchen sink is clogged.

   bathtub drain; floor drain; shower drain; sink drain

   An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex. The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.

   2013 March 28, Frank Fish, George Lauder, “Not Just Going with the Flow”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 2, page 114

2. UKAn access point or conduit for rainwater that drains directly downstream in a (drainage) basin without going through sewers or water treatment in order to prevent or belay floods.
3. A natural or artificial watercourse which drains a tract of land.

   ;;Saganing Drain, Vermuyden's Drain, the South Drain river, Najafgarh drain

   2 more examples

   […] the little runs and drains, that come through the hills, and to the sources of the creeks and their branches.

   1770 (printed in 1834), George Washington, The Writings of George Washington: pt. I. Official letters ..., page 531

   The main drain of the country is the Walé nullah, which afterwards joins the Southern Ngombé and forms part of the system of the Malagarazi.

   1877, Verney Lovett Cameron, Across Africa, page 299

4. Something consuming resources and providing nothing in return.

   That rental property is a drain on our finances.

5. vulgarAn act of urination.
6. businessOne terminal of a field effect transistor (FET).
7. pinballAn outhole.
8. UKdatedslangA drink.

   What did she want with money, except now and then for a drain of white satin.

   1966, Henry Mayhew, Peter Quennell, London's Underworld, page 48

   1 more example

   When the play was over, we came out together, and I said, "We've been very companionable and agreeable, and perhaps you wouldn't object to a drain?"

   1850 September 14, [Charles Dickens], “Three “Detective” Anecdotes”, in Charles Dickens, editor, Household Words. A Weekly Journal., volume I, number 25, London: Office, […], →OCLC

present singular third person drains · participle present draining · participle past drained · past drained · alternative drein · alternative obsolete drein · alternative Appalachia dreen

1. intransitiveTo lose liquid.

   The clogged sink drained slowly.

   1 more example

   Knock knock. / Who’s there? / Dwayne. / Dwayne who? / Drain the bathtub, I’m drowning.

2. intransitiveTo flow gradually.

   The water of low ground drains off.

3. ergativetransitiveTo cause liquid to flow out of.

   Please drain the sink. It’s full of dirty water.

   Synonyms: bleed

4. ergativetransitiveTo convert a perennially wet place into a dry one.

   They had to drain the swampy land before the parking lot could be built.

5. transitiveTo deplete of energy or resources.

   The stress of this job is really draining me.

6. transitiveTo draw off by degrees; to cause to flow gradually out or off; hence, to exhaust.

   Fountains drain the water from the ground adjacent.

   1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC

   2 more examples

   At leaſt, I'm ſure I can fiſh it out of her. She's the very Sluce to her Lady's Secrets;—'Tis but ſetting her Mill agoing, and I can drein her of 'em all.

   1693, Will[iam] Congreve, The Old Batchelour, a Comedy. […], London: […] Peter Buck, […], →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 45

   But it was not alone that he drained their treasure and hampered their industry.

   1856, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic. A History. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC

7. obsoletetransitiveTo filter.

   Salt water, drained through twenty vessels of earth, hath become fresh.

   1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC

8. intransitivepinballTo fall off the bottom of the playfield.

   When a ball finally drains, it's gulped down by a giant gator beneath the set of flippers.

   1990, Steven A. Schwartz, Compute's Nintendo Secrets

9. archaicslangtransitiveTo drink.

   But when I strove my flame to tell, / Says she, 'Come, stow that patter, / If you're a cove wot likes a gal, / Vy don't you stand some gatter?' / In course I instantly complied— / Two brimming quarts of porter, / With sev'ral goes of gin beside, / Drain'd Bet the Coaley's daughter.

   Bet the Coaley's Daughter (traditional song)

10. slangtransitiveball gamesTo make a shot.

plural Drains

1. A surname.
2. A city in Douglas County, Oregon, United States.
3. UKinformalWaterloo & City Line.