drain

CEFRB1

/dɹeɪn/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To remove liquid from something.

  2. 02

    noun

    A pipe or opening through which liquid leaves.

Examples

  • Open the tin and drain the tuna.

  • It's money down the drain.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • /dɹiːn/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. A natural or artificial watercourse which drains a tract of land.

  2. An 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.

noun

Extra meaning

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

More examples

In context

  • The drain is running freely.

  • The drain in the kitchen sink is clogged.

  • bathtub drain; floor drain; shower drain; sink drain

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

After cooking the pasta, you must blank it in a colander to remove the water.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

Old English drēahnian Middle English *dreinen English drain Inherited from Middle English *dreinen, from Old English drēahnian, from Proto-West Germanic *drauhnōn, from Proto-Germanic *drauhnōną, from *draugiz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewgʰ-, from *dʰer-. Akin to Old English drūgian (“to dry up”), Old English drūgaþ (“dryness, drought”), Old English drȳġe (“dry”). More at dry.