rail|road /re I lroʊd/ (railroads , railroading , railroaded )
1 N‑COUNT A railroad is a route between two places along which trains travel on steel rails. [AM ] □ …railroad tracks that led to nowhere. in BRIT, use railway 2 N‑COUNT A railroad is a company or organization that operates railway routes. [AM ] □ …The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. in BRIT, use railway 3 VERB If you railroad someone into doing something, you make them do it although they do not really want to, by hurrying them and putting pressure on them. □ [V n + into ] She is a distractingly beautiful actress who has refused to be railroaded into rom-coms. □ [V n through ] He railroaded the reforms through.
rail|way ◆◇◇ /re I lwe I / (railways )
1 N‑COUNT A railway is a route between two places along which trains travel on steel rails. [mainly BRIT ] □ The road ran beside a railway. □ …a disused railway line. in AM, usually use railroad 2 N‑COUNT A railway is a company or organization that operates railway routes. [BRIT ] □ …the state-owned French railway. □ …the privatisation of the railways. in AM, use railroad 3 N‑COUNT A railway is the system and network of tracks that trains travel on. [mainly AM ]
rail|way|man /re I lwe I mən/ (railwaymen ) N‑COUNT Railwaymen are men who work for the railway. [BRIT ] in AM, use rail workers , railroad workers
rai|ment /re I mənt/ N‑UNCOUNT Raiment is clothing. [LITERARY ] □ I want nothing but raiment and daily bread.
rain ◆◆◇ /re I n/ (rains , raining , rained )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N ] Rain is water that falls from the clouds in small drops. □ I hope you didn't get soaked standing out in the rain.
2 N‑PLURAL In countries where rain only falls in certain seasons, this rain is referred to as the rains . □ …the spring, when the rains came.
3 VERB When rain falls, you can say that it is raining . □ [V ] It was raining hard, and she hadn't an umbrella.
4 VERB If someone rains blows, kicks, or bombs on a person or place, the person or place is attacked by many blows, kicks, or bombs. You can also say that blows, kicks, or bombs rain on a person or place. □ [V n + on ] The police, raining blows on rioters and spectators alike, cleared the park. □ [V + on ] Rockets, mortars and artillery rounds rained on buildings. ● PHRASAL VERB Rain down means the same as rain . □ [V P n] Fighter aircraft rained down high explosives. □ [V P + on ] Grenades and mortars rained down on the city.
5 PHRASE If you say that someone does something rain or shine , you mean that they do it regularly, without being affected by the weather or other circumstances. □ Frances took her daughter walking every day, rain or shine.
▸ rain off PHRASAL VERB If a sports game is rained off , it has to stop, or it is not able to start, because of rain. [BRIT ] □ [be V -ed P ] Most of the games have been rained off. □ [V -ed P ] …a rained-off cricket match. in AM, use rain out
▸ rain out PHRASAL VERB If a sports game is rained out , it has to stop, or it is not able to start, because of rain. [AM ] □ [be V -ed P ] Saturday's game was rained out. in BRIT, use rain off COLLOCATIONS rain NOUN 1
noun + rain : monsoon
adjective + rain : driving, heavy, pouring, torrential; light
verb + rain : brave
rain|bow /re I nboʊ/ (rainbows ) N‑COUNT A rainbow is an arch of different colours that you can sometimes see in the sky when it is raining. □ …silk brocade of every colour of the rainbow.
rai n check (rain checks )
1 N‑SING If you say you will take a rain check on an offer or suggestion, you mean that you do not want to accept it now, but you might accept it at another time. □ Can I take a rain check on that?
2 N‑COUNT A rain check is a free ticket that is given to people when an outdoor game or event is stopped because of rain or bad weather, so that they can go to it when it is held again. [AM ]
rain|coat /re I nkoʊt/ (raincoats ) N‑COUNT A raincoat is a waterproof coat.
rain|drop /re I ndrɒp/ (raindrops ) N‑COUNT A raindrop is a single drop of rain.
rain|fall /re I nfɔːl/ N‑UNCOUNT Rainfall is the amount of rain that falls in a place during a particular period. □ There have been four years of below average rainfall.
rain|for|est /re I nfɒr I st, [AM ] -fɔːr-/ (rainforests ) in AM, also use rain forest N‑VAR A rainforest is a thick forest of tall trees which is found in tropical areas where there is a lot of rain.
rain|storm /re I nstɔː r m/ (rainstorms ) N‑COUNT A rainstorm is a fall of very heavy rain. □ His car collided with another car during a heavy rainstorm.
rai n-swept also rainswept ADJ [ADJ n] A rain-swept place is a place where it is raining heavily. □ He looked up and down the rain-swept street.
rain|water /re I nwɔːtə r / N‑UNCOUNT Rainwater is water that has fallen as rain.
rainy /re I ni/ (rainier , rainiest )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] During a rainy day, season, or period it rains a lot. □ The rainy season in the Andes normally starts in December.