DRAIN


Meaning of DRAIN in English

— drainable , adj. — drainer , n.

/drayn/ , v.t.

1. to withdraw or draw off (a liquid) gradually; remove slowly or by degrees, as by filtration: to drain oil from a crankcase.

2. to withdraw liquid gradually from; make empty or dry by drawing off liquid: to drain a crankcase.

3. to exhaust the resources of: to drain the treasury.

4. to deprive of strength; tire.

v.i.

5. to flow off gradually.

6. to become empty or dry by the gradual flowing off of liquid or moisture: This land drains into the Mississippi.

n.

7. something, as a pipe or conduit, by which a liquid drains.

8. Surg. a material or appliance for maintaining the opening of a wound to permit free exit of fluids.

9. gradual or continuous outflow, withdrawal, or expenditure.

10. something that causes a large or continuous outflow, expenditure, or depletion: Medical expenses were a major drain on his bank account.

11. an act of draining.

12. Physical Geog.

a. an artificial watercourse, as a ditch or trench.

b. a natural watercourse modified to increase its flow of water.

13. go down the drain ,

a. to become worthless or profitless.

b. to go out of existence; disappear.

[ bef. 1000; ME dreynen, OE drehnian, dreahnian to strain, filter; akin to DRY ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .