— 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 ]