Rainwater Meaning
/rˈeɪˌnwɔtər/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounRainfall.
nounWater (for a house, etc.) sourced from rain which has not joined a spring, stream or river, pond, lake or sea.
Sentence Examples
The rainwater runs off through this pipe.
The bucket was full of rainwater.
Last month, we collected five liters of rainwater.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the heavy rain, they collected the ____ from the roof to water the garden.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The farmer collected ____ in large tanks to irrigate the crops during dry spells.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English reinwater, from Old English reġnwæter, equivalent to rain + water. Cognate with West Frisian reinwetter, Dutch regenwater, German Regenwasser, Swedish regnvatten.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In early December, as rainwaters had started the monthlong process of flooding mines and washing out rail lines, workers lined up before 1 p.m. at an easy-to-miss storefront depot in Mackay."
— 2011 December 1, Joel Kirkland, “Australia's Record Rains Squeeze World Coal Supplies as Scientists Study Climate Pattern”, in The New York Times:
"Constructed of hard flint stone, which came as ballast from England and is now painted coral white, the house has a fishpond, or catchment, roof, dating from 1788, to collect rainwater."
— 1987 January 18, Paula Deitz, “ISLAND LIVING, ENGLISH STYLE”, in The New York Times:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the heavy rain, they collected the ____ from the roof to water the garden.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The farmer collected ____ in large tanks to irrigate the crops during dry spells.