Definition of "drain"

drain

/dɹeɪn/

noun
plural drains
1. (chiefly US, Canada) A conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume; a plughole (UK)
  Quotations
  An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex. The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.
  2013 March, Frank Fish, George Lauder, “Not Just Going with the Flow”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 2, page 114
2. (chiefly UK) An access point or conduit for rainwater that drains directly downstream in a (drainage) basin without going through sewers or water treatment in order to prevent or belay floods.
3. Something consuming resources and providing nothing in return.
4. (vulgar) An act of urination.
5. (electronics) One terminal of a field effect transistor (FET).
6. (pinball) An outhole.
7. (UK, slang, dated) A drink.
  Quotations
  When the play was over, we came out together, and I said, "We've been very companionable and agreeable, and perhaps you wouldn't object to a drain?"
  1850 September 14, [Charles Dickens], “Three “Detective” Anecdotes”, in Charles Dickens, editor, Household Words. A Weekly Journal., volume I, number 25, London: Office, […]
  What did she want with money, except now and then for a drain of white satin.
  1966, Henry Mayhew, Peter Quennell, London's Underworld, page 48
verb
third-person singular simple present drains, present participle draining, simple past and past participle drained
1. (intransitive) To lose liquid.
2. (intransitive) To flow gradually.
3. (transitive, ergative) To cause liquid to flow out of.
4. (transitive, ergative) To convert a perennially wet place into a dry one.
5. (transitive) To deplete of energy or resources.
6. (transitive) To draw off by degrees; to cause to flow gradually out or off; hence, to exhaust.
  Quotations
  Fountains drain the water from the ground adjacent.
  1631, Francis [Bacon], “(please specify |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […]
  At leaſt, I'm ſure I can fiſh it out of her. She's the very Sluce to her Lady's Secrets;—'Tis but ſetting her Mill agoing, and I can drein her of 'em all.
  1693, [William] Congreve, The Old Batchelour, a Comedy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Peter Buck, […], Act V, page 45
  But it was not alone that he drained their treasure and hampered their industry.
  1856, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic. A History. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […]
7. (transitive, obsolete) To filter.
  Quotations
  Salt water, drained through twenty vessels of earth, hath become fresh.
  1631, Francis [Bacon], “(please specify |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […]
8. (intransitive, pinball) To fall off the bottom of the playfield.
  Quotations
  When a ball finally drains, it's gulped down by a giant gator beneath the set of flippers.
  1990, Steven A. Schwartz, Compute's Nintendo Secrets
9. (slang, archaic, transitive) To drink.
  Quotations
  But when I strove my flame to tell, / Says she, 'Come, stow that patter, / If you're a cove wot likes a gal, / Vy don't you stand some gatter?' / In course I instantly complied— / Two brimming quarts of porter, / With sev'ral goes of gin beside, / Drain'd Bet the Coaley's daughter.
  Bet the Coaley's Daughter (traditional song)
10. (transitive, basketball, slang) To make a shot.

Definition of "drain"

drain

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verb

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