n. 1 ditch, channel, trench, culvert, conduit, pipe, gutter, outlet, watercourse, sewer, cloaca The storm drains have overflowed 2 depletion, reduction, sapping, sap, exhaustion, strain, drag; outgo, outflow, withdrawal, disbursement, expenditure The cost of the new roof was a drain on our resources 3 down the drain. wasted, gone, thrown away, lost, Slang up the spout All that money spent on his education went down the drain
v. 4 draw off, tap, extract, remove, take away, withdraw, pump off or out; empty, evacuate, drink up or down, quaff, swallow, finish After washing the lettuce, drain off the water He drained the glass in one gulp. 5 consume, use up, exhaust, sap, deplete, bleed, strain, tax, spend; weaken, debilitate, impair, cripple The car repairs drained my bank account After climbing to the top of the mountain, we were completely drained. 6 seep, trickle, ooze, drip, leave, go or flow from or out of, disappear (from), ebb Let the pus drain from the boil The blood drained from his face when he saw her.