Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - rain

~1 n 1 water that falls in small drops from clouds in the sky  (Rain is forecast for tomorrow. | We've had 5 inches of rain in two days! | We got caught in the rain and I'm soaked through. | it looks like rain! spoken (=it is probably going to rain))  (It looks like rain, so let's go inside. | heavy/light rain (=a large or small amount))  (There will be heavy rain in most parts of the country. | pour with rain BrE (=to rain very hard))  (It was pouring with rain as we set off.) 2 the rains a period in the year when there is a lot of rain in tropical countries; monsoon  (The rains have started early this year.) 3 be (as) right as rain spoken to be healthy, especially after you have been ill or had a bad experience 4 (come) rain or shine spoken whatever happens or whatever the weather is like  (Don't worry. We'll be there - rain or shine.) 5 under a rain of arrows/blows etc being hit by many arrows etc at the same time  (- see also acid rain) - rainless adj ~2 v 1 if it rains, drops of water fall from clouds in the sky  (Oh no! It's raining again! | It was raining hard.) 2 be rained off BrE be rained out AmE if an event or activity is rained off or rained out, it has to stop because there is too much rain  (We were supposed to go to a double header but it was rained out.) 3 it never rains but it pours spoken used to say that as soon as one thing goes wrong, a lot of other things go wrong as well 4 it's raining cats and dogs spoken it is raining very hard rain down phr v if something rains down, or is rained down, it falls in large quantities  (Tears rained down her cheeks. | The falling chimney rained down dust and stones.)