| Front | drain |
|---|---|
| Back | drain verb, noun BrE /dreɪn/ NAmE /dreɪn/ verb verb forms word origin collocations example bank 1 [transitive, intransitive] ~ (sth) to make sth empty or dry by removing all the liquid from it; to become empty or dry in this way Drain and rinse the pasta. The marshes have been drained. You will need to drain the central heating system before you replace the radiator. The swimming pool drains very slowly. Leave the dishes to drain. 2 [transitive, intransitive] to make liquid flow away from sth; to flow away ~ sth (from/out of sth) We had to drain the oil out of the engine. ~ sth away/off Drain off the excess fat from the meat. ~ away/off She pulled out the plug and the water drained away. (figurative) My anger slowly drained away. ~ into sth The river drains into a lake. ~ from/out of sth All the colour drained from his face when I told him the news ~ of sth His face drained of colour. 3 [transitive] ~ sth to empty a cup or glass by drinking everything in it In one gulp, he drained the glass. She quickly drained the last of her drink. 4 [transitive] to make sb/sth weaker, poorer, etc. by using up their/its strength, money, etc ~ sb/sth My mother's hospital expenses were slowly draining my income. an exhausting and draining experience ~ sb/sth of sth I felt drained of energy. noun word origin thesaurus example bank 1 [countable] a pipe that carries away dirty water or other liquid waste We had to call in a plumber to unblock the drain. The drains (= the system of pipes) date from the beginning of the century. 2 [countable] (BrE) (US grate, ˈsewer grate) a frame of metal bars over the opening to a drain in the ground 3 (US) (BrE plug•hole) [countable] a hole in a bath/ bathtub, sink, etc. where the water flows away and into which a plug fits See picture 4 [singular] a ~ on sb/sth a thing that uses a lot of the time, money, etc. that could be used for sth else Military spending is a huge drain on the country's resources. see also brain drain (go) down the ˈdrain (BrE also (go) down the ˈplughole) (informal) (to be) wasted; (to get) very much worse It's just money down the drain, you know. Safety standards have gone down the drain. more at laugh like a drain at laugh v. |
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