rain

plural rains · alternative obsolete rayne · alternative obsolete raygne

1. uncountableusuallyclimatologyCondensed water falling from a cloud.

   The rains came late that year.

   2 more examples

   We've been having a lot of rain lately.

   This process involves cloud seeding – when various substances are put into clouds in an attempt to cause rain.

   2019, VOA Learning English (public domain)

2. figurativelyuncountableusuallyAny matter moving or falling, usually through air, and especially if liquid or otherwise figuratively identifiable with raindrops.
3. figurativelyuncountableusuallyAn instance of particles or larger pieces of matter moving or falling through air.

   A rain of mortar fire fell on our trenches.

present singular third person rains · participle present raining · participle past rained · past rained · first person past singular rained · archaic present second person singular rainest · past second person singular rained · archaic past second person singular rainedst · present singular third person rains · archaic present singular third person raineth · past singular third person rained · past plural rained · past subjunctive rained · participle present raining · participle past rained

1. impersonalclimatologyTo have rain fall from the sky.

   Judging by the black cloud, it will rain later today.

   1 more example

   The rain it raineth every day.

   c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

2. figurativelyintransitiveTo fall as or like rain.

   Bombs rained from the sky.

   3 more examples

   Tears rained from her eyes.

   Leaves rained from the tree.

   Bury me softly in this womb / I give this part of me for you / Sand rains down and here I sit / Holding rare flowers in a tomb, in bloom / Down in a hole and I don't know if I can be saved / See my heart, I decorate it like a grave / Oh, you don't understand who they thought I was supposed to be / Look at me now, a man who won't let himself be

   1992, Jerry Cantrell, “Down in a Hole”, in Dirt (grunge, power ballad), performed by Alice in Chains, United States: Columbia Records

3. figurativelytransitiveTo issue (something) in large quantities.

   The boxer rained punches on his opponent's head.

   2 more examples

   Generous to a fault, they positively rained gifts on all their friends.

   Reporters rained questions on the beleaguered police chief.

present singular third person rains · participle present raining · participle past rained · past rained

1. obsoleteObsolete form of reign.

   Such wondrous science in mans witt to rain.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto V”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

1. A female given name.