I. ˈdrān verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English draynen, from Old English drēahnian, drēhnian; perhaps akin to Old Norse drangr dry log, Frisian drūgen to strain, Old English drȳge dry — more at dry
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to pass (liquid) through some permeable substance : filter
2.
a. : to draw off (liquid) by degrees : cause to flow gradually out or off : draw off completely (as by means of a drain or trench)
drain the water from a tank
waterspouts to drain off the rain
b.
(1) : to cause the gradual disappearance or extinction of
fright had drained all color from his face
the urge to conform was slowly draining the boy's individuality
: exhaust
war had drained the country's treasure and best manhood
(2) : vent , discharge
drain an undesirable emotion
enabling the patient to drain his deeply repressed anxieties
(3) : to exhaust physically or emotionally
drained as he was by his session …, he did not feel up to it — Hamilton Basso
matinee days are tough; two shows a day drain a girl — Ethel Merman
3.
a. : to exhaust of liquid contents by drawing them off : make gradually dry or empty
drain a flooded mine
drain a marsh
: receive or carry away the surface water or discharge of
draining mountains of everlasting snow, the river twists for nineteen hundred miles — J.F.Dobie
this lake drains the numerous small streams of the area
b.
(1) : empty
drain of wealth or resources
drained the country of its gold
(2) : to drink (a liquid) to the last drops
took the drink out of the drawer and drained it — Barnaby Conrad
: empty (a glass or other container) by drinking
allow you a respectable interlude in which to drain your glass — Richard Joseph
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to flow off gradually
blood draining from a wound
b. : to disappear gradually : dwindle — often used with away
his nervousness drained away, as it always did — H.A.Sinclair
all his wealth had drained away
2. : to become emptied or freed of liquid by its flowing or dropping
put the umbrella on the porch to drain
3. : to discharge surface or surplus water or streams in a given direction or to an outlet
the middle western states drain into the Gulf of Mexico
Synonyms: see deplete
II. noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
1.
a. : an artificial channel by means of which liquid or other matter is drained or carried off : sewer , sink , trench
b. : a watercourse especially when narrow
2.
a. : the act of draining or drawing off liquid : gradual outflow or withdrawal
drain from a wound
drain from a leaky faucet
b.
(1) : a gradual outflow or withdrawal of something nonliquid : depletion or the amount of such depletion
a ruinous drain of dollars
a net drain from the East of five million souls — G.W.Pierson
(2) : something that causes depletions (as of resources) : burden , strain
indebtedness is apt to be one of the great drains upon the income of peasant families — Notes & Queries on Anthropology
the medical and social care of old people … constitutes a heavy drain on the economic resources of society — M.A.Abrams
the office worker emerged as a major drain on business profits — Gabriel Kolko
3. drains plural
a. : dregs
as though … I had emptied some dull opiate to the drains — John Keats
b. brewing , Britain : the grain from the mash tun
4.
a. : the liquid or other matter that is drained off or away
the drain had collected at the foot of the spout, forming a small pool
b. : a small remaining amount of liquid
they still had a tiny drain of petrol for the works car for station trips — Nevil Shute
c. : a drink especially of some alcoholic beverage
she thought a drain of gin and peppermint … would do most good — William Heath
his cigar going and a drain of brandy … before him — A.J.Cronin
5. : a tube or a cylinder usually of absorbent material for drainage of a wound — compare cigarette drain
III. transitive verb
: sink 14
snaps his fingers when he drains a long putt — Barry McDermott
drained two free throws
IV. noun
( -s )
: an electrode in a field-effect transistor to which charge carriers migrate — compare gate herein source herein
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- down the drain