drain

¹drain

verb \ˈdrān\

Definition of DRAIN

transitive verb

1

obsolete : filter

2

a : to draw off (liquid) gradually or completely <drained all the water out>

b : to cause the gradual disappearance of <drain the region's wealth>

c : to exhaust physically or emotionally <feeling drained at the end of a long workday>

3

a : to make gradually dry <drain a swamp>

b : to carry away the surface water of <the river that drains the valley>

c : to deplete or empty by or as if by drawing off by degrees or in increments <drained the country of its resources>

d : to empty by drinking the contents of <drain a mug of beer>

4

: drop 7c, sink <drained the putt>

intransitive verb

1

a : to flow off gradually

b : to disappear gradually : dwindle

2

: to become emptied or freed of liquid by its flowing or dropping <waiting for the tub to drain>

3

: to discharge surface or surplus water

— drain·er noun

Examples of DRAIN

1. Drain the canned tomatoes before adding them to the pot.
2. The swamp has been drained.
3. I was waiting for the bathtub to drain.
4. The river drains into a lake.
5. Years of civil war have drained the country's resources.
6. The city's emergency fund has been drained.
7. I feel totally drained of energy this evening.

Origin of DRAIN

Middle English draynen, from Old English drēahnian — more at dry

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to DRAIN

Synonyms

bleed, draft, draw (off), pump, siphon (also syphon), tap

Antonyms

fill

Related Words

milk; suck; clear, empty, evacuate, exhaust, vacate, vacuate, void; decant, effuse; deplete; clean, flush, purge

Near Antonyms

bathe, douse (also dowse), drench, soak, souse, wash, water, wet; deluge, drown, flood, inundate, overflow; submerge, swamp

See Synonym Discussion at deplete

²drain

noun

Definition of DRAIN

1

: a means (as a pipe) by which usually liquid matter is drained

2

a : the act of draining

b : a gradual outflow or withdrawal : depletion

3

: something that causes depletion : burden

4

: an electrode in a field-effect transistor toward which charge carriers move — compare gate, source

— down the drain

: to a state of being wasted or irretrievably lost

Examples of DRAIN

1. The drain in the bathtub is blocked.

First Known Use of DRAIN

1552