rain-storm

A family watches the rain-storm from their living room window.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A storm accompanied by rain: "rain-storm" refers to a meteorological event characterized by heavy or prolonged rainfall, often accompanied by thunder, lightning, or strong winds. It is a compound noun denoting a specific type of storm where rain is the primary precipitation.

Usage Examples

• (A storm with heavy rain approaching.)
• (We remained inside while the storm produced rain.)

Advanced Usage

• "to weather a rain-storm": to endure or survive a rain-storm.

  • The old roof managed to weather the rain-storm without leaking. (The roof withstood the heavy rain.)

• "a rain-storm of [something]": a metaphorical use meaning a large amount or sudden outpouring of something, like criticism or questions.

  • The politician faced a rain-storm of complaints after the speech. (He received an overwhelming number of complaints.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rainstorm (n): an alternative spelling (common in modern usage), meaning the same as "rain-storm."

  • The rainstorm flooded the streets. (The storm with heavy rain caused flooding.)

• Thunderstorm (n): a storm with thunder and lightning, often but not always accompanied by rain.

  • A thunderstorm rolled in with loud claps of thunder and heavy rain. (A storm featuring thunder and rain.)

Synonyms

• Downpour: a heavy fall of rain.
• Cloudburst: a sudden, very heavy rainstorm.
• Deluge: a severe flood or heavy rain.

Related Idioms

• "It never rains but it pours": used to say that when one bad thing happens, many other bad things happen at the same time (not directly about a rain-storm, but metaphorically related).

  • First I lost my keys, then my car broke down — it never rains but it pours. (Misfortunes come together.)

• "Rain or shine": regardless of weather conditions, including a rain-storm.

  • The event will go ahead rain or shine. (It will happen even if there is a rain-storm.)