drain
[noun]
Synonyms:
- pipe, channel, conduit, culvert, ditch, duct, sewer, sink, trench
- reduction, depletion, drag, exhaustion, sap, strain, withdrawal
[verb]
Synonyms:
- remove, bleed, draw off, dry, empty, pump off or out, tap, withdraw
- flow out, effuse, exude, leak, ooze, seep, trickle, well out
- drink up, finish, gulp down, quaff, swallow
- exhaust, consume, deplete, dissipate, empty, sap, strain, use up

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Related Idioms: bleed white
Related Words: milk, bleed, suck, empty, exhaust

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. drain¹ /dreɪn/ verb
[Language: Old English; Origin: dreahnian]

1. LIQUID
a) [transitive] to make the water or liquid in something flow away:
The swimming pool is drained and cleaned every winter.
drain something from something
Brad drained all the oil from the engine.
Can you drain the spaghetti, please (=pour away the water from the pan)?
b) [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if liquid drains away, it flows away
drain away/off/from
I watched the bath water drain away.
c) [intransitive] if something drains, the liquid that is in it or on it flows away and it becomes dry:
Open ditches drain very efficiently.
She washed up and left the dishes to drain.
well-drained/poorly-drained soil (=soil from which water flows away quickly or slowly)
This plant needs rich, well-drained soil.

2. MAKE SOMEBODY TIRED [transitive] to make someone feel very tired and without any energy:
Working with children all day really drains you.

3. USE TOO MUCH [transitive] to use too much of something, especially money, so that there is not enough left:
Huge imports were draining the country’s currency reserves.

4. the colour/blood drains from sb’s face/cheeks used to say that someone’s face becomes very pale, because they are frightened or shocked:
When the verdict was read out, all the colour drained from Zelda’s cheeks.

5. drain a glass/cup etc written to drink all the liquid in a glass, cup etc:
Hannah drained her mug in one gulp.
drain away phrasal verb
if something drains away, it is reduced until there is none left:
I watched the light drain away.
anger/confidence/tension/hope etc drains away
Sally felt her anger drain away.
drain something ↔ off phrasal verb
to make water or a liquid flow off something, leaving it dry:
After cooking the meat, drain off the excess fat.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. drain² noun [countable]

1. especially British English a pipe that carries water or waste liquids away:
The flood was caused by a blocked drain.
There’s a problem with the drains.

2. British English the frame of metal bars over a drain where water etc can flow into it Synonym : grate American English

3. American English the hole in the bottom of a bath or sink that water flows out through Synonym : plughole British English

4. a drain on something something that continuously uses a lot of time, money etc:
The war was an enormous drain on the country’s resources.

5. down the drain informal
a) if time, effort, or money goes down the drain, it is wasted or produces no results:
Well that’s it. 18 months’ work down the drain.
b) if an organization, country etc goes down the drain, it becomes worse or fails:
That’s why this country’s going down the drain!
⇒ brain drain, ⇒ laugh like a drain at laugh¹(1)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

drain
noun
I. pipe/hole that dirty water goes down
ADJ. blocked
VERB + DRAIN block | clear, unblock | lay They were busy laying the drains for the new houses.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

drain
II. sth that uses up time/money/resources
ADJ. heavy, major, serious | brain scientists joining the brain drain (= moving to a country where they can work in better conditions and earn more)
PREP. ~ on These losses have been a major drain on the company's resources.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

drain
verb
I. make sth empty/dry
ADV. thoroughly, well Remove the artichokes, drain thoroughly and allow to cool. well-drained soil

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

drain
II. make sb/sth weaker/poorer, etc.
ADV. totally, utterly | emotionally, physically | away draining away the country's coal reserves
PREP. of His voice was utterly drained of emotion.
PHRASES be/feel drained Sue felt exhausted and emotionally drained.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

drain
dreɪn
See: down the drain

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲