Definition

1. Noun:

   • A brief fall of precipitation: A short period of rain, hail, or sleet.
   • A device or enclosure for washing: A plumbing fixture or a stall in which a person stands under a spray of water to wash.
   • The act of washing under such a spray: The act of taking a bath using a shower.
   • A party where gifts are given: A social gathering, typically for a person celebrating a specific event (like a wedding or the expected birth of a baby), at which gifts are presented.
   • An abundant fall or rush of many small things: A sudden, copious quantity of things falling or arriving, such as sparks, meteors, or praise.

2. Verb:

   • To rain or fall abundantly: To fall or be thrown in a copious stream or quantity.
   • To wash oneself in a shower: To bathe by standing under a spray of water.
   • To bestow or give in great abundance: To give or provide something generously or in large amounts.
   • To scatter or sprinkle over: To cause a large number of small things to fall upon someone or something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • We got caught in a sudden shower on our walk. (A brief rain.)
  • The bathroom has a bathtub and a separate shower. (A washing fixture.)
  • I'll just take a quick shower before dinner. (The act of washing.)
  • They threw her a bridal shower last weekend. (A gift-giving party.)
  • The explosion produced a shower of sparks. (An abundant fall of small things.)

• Verb:

  • It is supposed to shower this afternoon. (To rain briefly.)
  • You should shower after your workout. (To wash in a shower.)
  • Her admirers showered her with flowers. (To give abundantly.)
  • The crowd showered the team with confetti. (To scatter over.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be showered with something": To receive a great amount of something (often abstract like praise, attention, or gifts).

  • The retiring professor was showered with tributes from her students.

• "shower down (on/upon)": To fall or descend in a heavy, continuous stream.

  • Debris showered down from the collapsing building.

Variants and Related Words

• Shower gel (n): A liquid soap used for washing in the shower.
• Shower cap (n): A waterproof cap worn to protect the hair while showering.
• Showerhead (n): The nozzle or fixture that sprays water in a shower.
• Shower curtain (n): A waterproof curtain that prevents water from leaving the shower area.

Synonyms

• Noun (rain): Downpour, sprinkle, cloudburst.
• Noun (abundance): Deluge, torrent, flood, cascade.
• Verb (bestow): Lavish, heap, pour.
• Verb (wash): Bathe, clean.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Shower off: To remove something by washing under a shower.

  • I need to shower off this sand from the beach.

• Shower with: To cover or provide someone with a lot of something.

  • They showered the hero with honors.

Related Idioms

• A shower of blessings: An unexpected abundance of good things.

  • The community support felt like a shower of blessings after the fire.

• April shower: Refers to the brief, light rains common in the month of April, often associated with the saying "April showers bring May flowers."

  • Don't forget your umbrella; we might get an April shower.

Noun

1. a party of friends assembled to present gifts (usually of a specified kind) to a person
   • her friends organized a baby shower for her when she was expecting
2. someone who organizes an exhibit for others to see
3. a sudden downpour (as of tears or sparks etc) likened to a rain shower
   • a little shower of rose petals
   • a sudden cascade of sparks
4. a brief period of precipitation
   • the game was interrupted by a brief shower
5. washing yourself by standing upright under water sprayed from a nozzle
   • he took a shower after the game
6. a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
   • they installed a shower in the bathroom

Verb

1. provide abundantly with
   • He showered her with presents
2. rain abundantly
   • Meteors showered down over half of Australia
3. take a shower; wash one's body in the shower
   • You should shower after vigorous exercise
4. spray or sprinkle with
   • The guests showered rice on the couple
5. expend profusely; also used with abstract nouns
   • He was showered with praise