drain

A hole or pipe that carries water or other liquid away.

• The drain is blocked.
• Water disappeared down the kitchen drain.
• We cleaned the drains behind the house.

Similar words: outlet, plughole

Common phrases: blocked drain, sink drain, down the drain, bath drain

An opening or channel that carries rainwater directly to a river or another waterway.

• Leaves blocked the storm drain.
• Rainwater flows through this drain into the river.
• Keep oil out of street drains.

Similar words: storm drain, stormwater drain

Common phrases: storm drain, rainwater drain, street drain

To remove water or another liquid from something.

• Drain the pasta before serving it.
• We drained the pool yesterday.
• Have you drained the water from the tank?

How to use it: drain something of something (They drained the tank of water.); drain something from something (Drain the oil from the pan.)

Similar words: empty

Opposites: fill

Common phrases: drain the pasta, drain the tank, drain something dry

If a container or area does this, its water or other liquid flows out.

• The sink drains slowly.
• We waited for the bath to drain.
• This soil drains well after heavy rain.

Similar words: empty

Opposites: fill

Common phrases: drain slowly, drain well, drain completely

If liquid does this, it flows away gradually.

• The water drained away.
• Rain drains off the roof into a barrel.
• All the liquid had drained from the bag.

How to use it: drain into something (Rainwater drains into the river.); drain from something (Water drained from the field overnight.)

Similar words: flow away, run off

Common phrases: drain away, drain off, drain into something