What is the difference between rainfall and rain?
rainfall | rain |
(meteorology) the amount of rain that falls on a single occasion
Condensed water falling from a cloud.
(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.
(impersonal) To have rain fall from the sky.
To fall as or like rain.
* Shakespeare
To fall in large quantities.
To issue (something) in large quantities.
Rain is a derived term of rainfall.
As nouns the difference between rainfall and rain
is that rainfall is the amount of rain that falls on a single occasion while rain is condensed water falling from a cloud.As a verb rain is
to have rain fall from the sky.rainfall
English
Noun
Derived terms
* effective rainfall * excess rainfall * excessive rainfall * initial rainfall * inversion of rainfall * orographic rainfall * point rainfall * rainfall component * rainfall distribution * rainfall duration * rainfall effectiveness * rainfall excess * rainfall frequency * rainfall intensity * rainfall intensity area curve * rainfall intensity-duration curve * rainfall intensity-duration-frequency curve * rainfall intensity frequency * rainfall intensity pattern * rainfall intensity return period * rainfall inversion * rainfall loss * rainfall rate * rainfall regime * rainfall station * rate-of-rainfall gauge * residual rainfall *rain
English
Noun
(en-noun)- We've been having a lot of rain lately .
- The rains came late that year.
- 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 alsoDerived terms
en verb)- It will rain today.
- The rain it raineth every day.
- Tears rained from her eyes.
- Bombs rained from the sky.
- The boxer rained punches on his opponent's head.