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Drain   /dreɪn/   Listen
noun
Drain  n.  
1.
The act of draining, or of drawing off; gradual and continuous outflow or withdrawal; as, the drain of specie from a country; the project is a drain on resources.
2.
That means of which anything is drained; a channel; a trench; a water course; a sewer; a sink.
3.
pl. The grain from the mashing tub; as, brewers' drains. (Eng.)
Box drain, Counter drain. See under Box, Counter.
Right of drain (Law), an easement or servitude by which one man has a right to convey water in pipes through or over the estate of another.


verb
Drain  v. t.  (past & past part. drained; pres. part. draining)  
1.
To draw off by degrees; to cause to flow gradually out or off; hence, to cause the exhaustion of. "Fountains drain the water from the ground adjacent." "But it was not alone that the he drained their treasure and hampered their industry."
2.
To exhaust of liquid contents by drawing them off; to make gradually dry or empty; to remove surface water, as from streets, by gutters, etc.; to deprive of moisture; hence, to exhaust; to empty of wealth, resources, or the like; as, to drain a country of its specie. "Sinking waters, the firm land to drain, Filled the capacious deep and formed the main."
3.
To filter. "Salt water, drained through twenty vessels of earth, hath become fresh."


Drain  v. i.  
1.
To flow gradually; as, the water of low ground drains off.
2.
To become emptied of liquor by flowing or dropping; as, let the vessel stand and drain.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Drain" Quotes from Famous Books



... they have given me a part at the Azhogins'?" she went on. "I want to act on the stage, I want to live—in fact, I mean to drain the full cup. I have no talent, none, and the part is only ten lines, but still this is immeasurably finer and loftier than pouring out tea five times a day, and looking to see if the cook has eaten too much. Above all, let my father see I am ...
— The Chorus Girl and Other Stories • Anton Chekhov
... veil aught true; not tho' with clamorous uproar Rend me the stars; I speak verities hidden at heart): Lightly for all I reck, so more I sorrow to part me 75 Sadly from her I serve, part me forever away. With her, a virgin as yet, I quaff'd no sumptuous essence; With her, a bride, I drain'd many ...
— The Poems and Fragments of Catullus • Catullus
... that would make me painful to you. Or rather not me perhaps," she added as if to create between them the fullest possible light; "but my situation, my exposure—all the results of them I show. Doesn't one become a sort of a little drain-pipe ...
— The Awkward Age • Henry James
... a gallon pot, By Jove I'd tossed it up. And ever since that happy time, Good wine has been my cheer, Now nothing puts me in a swoon But water or small beer. Then let us tope about, my lads, And never flinch nor fly, But fill our skins brimfull of wine, And drain the bottles dry." ...
— History of English Humour, Vol. 1 (of 2) - With an Introduction upon Ancient Humour • Alfred Guy Kingan L'Estrange
... some pared turnips boiling in fair water, & being tender boil'd, drain the water from them, dish them in a clean dish, and run them over with beaten butter, dish your tongues and udders on them, and your colliflowers on the tongues and udders, run them over with beaten butter; or in place of colliflowers, ...
— The accomplisht cook - or, The art & mystery of cookery • Robert May


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