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What is the difference between hail and rain?

hail | rain |

In impersonal terms the difference between hail and rain

is that hail is said of the weather when hail is falling while rain is to have rain fall from the sky.

In transitive terms the difference between hail and rain

is that hail is to call out loudly in order to gain the attention of while rain is to issue (something) in large quantities.

As an adjective hail

is healthy, whole, safe.

As an interjection hail

is an exclamation of respectful or reverent salutation, or, occasionally, of familiar greeting.

hail

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) haile, hail, from (etyl) ). Root-cognates outside of Germanic include (etyl) .

Noun

(-)
  • Balls or pieces of ice falling as precipitation, often in connection with a thunderstorm.
  • Derived terms
    * hailstone * hail storm / hailstorm * hail shaft / hailshaft

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (impersonal) Said of the weather when hail is falling.
  • They say it's going to hail tomorrow.
  • to send or release hail
  • The cloud would hail down furiously within a few minutes .

    Etymology 2

    The adjective hail is a variant of (from the early 13th century). The transitive verb with the meaning "to salute" is also from the 13th century. The cognate verb heal is already Old English (. Also cognate is whole, from Old English (the spelling with wh- is unetymological, introduced in the 15th century).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to greet; give salutation to; salute.
  • To name; to designate; to call.
  • * Milton
  • And such a son as all men hailed me happy.
    He was hailed as a hero.
  • to call out loudly in order to gain the attention of
  • Hail a taxi.
    Derived terms
    * hailer * hail from

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Healthy, whole, safe.
  • Interjection

    (en-intj)
  • An exclamation of respectful or reverent salutation, or, occasionally, of familiar greeting.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Hail , brave friend.
    ----

    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 ----