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Drought vs Rain - What's the difference?

drought | rain |

As nouns the difference between drought and rain

is that drought is a period of below average rainfall, longer and more severe than a dry spell while rain is .

drought

English

Alternative forms

* drouth

Noun

(en noun)
  • A period of below average rainfall, longer and more severe than a dry spell.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-01
  • , author=Donald Worster , title=A Drier and Hotter Future , volume=100, issue=1, page=70 , magazine= citation , passage=Phoenix and Lubbock are both caught in severe drought , and it is going to get much worse. We may see many such [dust] storms in the decades ahead, along with species extinctions, radical disturbance of ecosystems, and intensified social conflict over land and water. Welcome to the Anthropocene, the epoch when humans have become a major geological and climatic force.}}
  • (by extension, informal) A longer than expected term without success, particularly in sport.
  • rain

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • Condensed water falling from a cloud.
  • We've been having a lot of rain lately .
    The rains came late that year.
  • (figuratively) Any matter moving or falling, usually through air, and especially if liquid or otherwise figuratively identifiable with raindrops.
  • (figuratively) An instance of particles or larger pieces of matter moving or falling through air.
  • A rain of mortar fire fell on our trenches.

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete)

    Usage notes

    * shower, downpour, drop are some of the words used to count rain.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    en verb)
  • (impersonal) To have rain fall from the sky.
  • It will rain today.
  • To fall as or like rain.
  • * Shakespeare
  • The rain it raineth every day.
    Tears rained from her eyes.
  • To fall in large quantities.
  • Bombs rained from the sky.
  • To issue (something) in large quantities.
  • The boxer rained punches on his opponent's head.

    Derived terms

    * Also see * it never rains but it pours * rain cats and dogs, rain dogs and cats * rain down * rain off

    See also

    * drizzle * hail * mizzle * precipitation * serein * shower * sleet * snow * storm *

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----