From Middle English dreinen, from Old English drēahnian, from Proto-Germanic *drauhnōną, from Proto-Germanic *draugiz.

• IPA: /dɹeɪn/
• (dialectal) IPA: /dɹiːn/ (see dreen)

drain (plural drains)

1. (chiefly, US, Canada) A conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume; a plughole (UK)

   The drain in the kitchen sink is clogged.

2. (chiefly, UK) An access point or conduit for rainwater that drains directly downstream in a (drainage) basin without going through sewers or water treatment in order to prevent or belay floods.
3. Something consuming resources and providing nothing in return.

   That rental property is a drain on our finances.

4. (vulgar) An act of urination.
5. (electronics) One terminal of a field effect transistor (FET).
6. (pinball) An outhole.
7. (UK, slang, dated) A drink.
   • 1850 September 13, [Charles Dickens], “Three “Detective” Anecdotes”, in Charles Dickens, editor, Household Words. A Weekly Journal., volume I, number 25, London: Office, […], →OCLC ↗:

     When the play was over, we came out together, and I said, "We've been very companionable and agreeable, and perhaps you wouldn't object to a drain?"

   • 1966, Henry Mayhew, Peter Quennell, London's Underworld, page 48:

     What did she want with money, except now and then for a drain of white satin.

• French: drain, bonde
• German: Abfluss
• Italian: scolo
• Portuguese: dreno, ralo
• Russian: дрена́ж
• Spanish: desagüe, drenaje

• Spanish: aliviadero

• French: hémorragie, gouffre
• Portuguese: ralo
• Russian: уте́чка
• Spanish: tubo abierto, sangría

• Russian: моче́ние

• French: drain

drain (drains, present participle draining; simple past and past participle drained)

1. (intransitive) To lose liquid.

   The clogged sink drained slowly.

   Knock knock. / Who’s there? / Dwayne. / Dwayne who? / Drain the bathtub, I’m drowning.

2. (intransitive) To flow gradually.

   The water of low ground drains off.

3. (transitive, ergative) To cause liquid to flow out of.

   Please drain the sink. It’s full of dirty water.

4. (transitive, ergative) To convert a perennially wet place into a dry one.

   They had to drain the swampy land before the parking lot could be built.

5. (transitive) To deplete of energy or resources.

   The stress of this job is really draining me.

6. (transitive) To draw off by degrees; to cause to flow gradually out or off; hence, to exhaust.
   • 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC ↗:

     Fountains drain the water from the ground adjacent.

   • 1693, [William] Congreve, The Old Batchelour, a Comedy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Peter Buck, […], →OCLC ↗, Act V, page 45 ↗:

     At leaſt, I'm ſure I can fiſh it out of her. She's the very Sluce to her Lady's Secrets;—'Tis but ſetting her Mill agoing, and I can drein her of 'em all.

   • 1856, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic. A History. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC ↗:

     But it was not alone that he drained their treasure and hampered their industry.

7. (transitive, obsolete) To filter.
   • 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC ↗:

     Salt water, drained through twenty vessels of earth, hath become fresh.

8. (intransitive, pinball) To fall off the bottom of the playfield.
9. (slang, archaic, transitive) To drink.
   • Bet the Coaley's Daughter (traditional song)

     But when I strove my flame to tell, / Says she, 'Come, stow that patter, / If you're a cove wot likes a gal, / Vy don't you stand some gatter?' / In course I instantly complied— / Two brimming quarts of porter, / With sev'ral goes of gin beside, / Drain'd Bet the Coaley's daughter.

10. (transitive, basketball, slang) To make a shot.

• French: drainer
• Italian: scolare
• Russian: протека́ть
• Spanish: drenar, perder

• French: drainer
• German: entwässern, abfließen lassen, ablassen
• Italian: scolare
• Portuguese: drenar, escoar
• Russian: спуска́ть
• Spanish: desaguar

• French: déshydrater, essorer
• German: trocknen, trockenlegen
• Portuguese: drenar, secar
• Russian: осуша́ть
• Spanish: desaguar, desecar

• German: leeren, entladen (battery)
• Portuguese: drenar
• Russian: истоща́ть
• Spanish: agotar

• As an Irish - and Scottish Gaelic - surname, from Ó Dreain, probably from dreán (see Welsh dryw).
• Also as an Irish surname, from Ó Druacháin; see Drohan.
• As an English surname, occupational surname related to the noun drain.
• Also as an English surname, spelling variant of Drane.
• As a French - surname, reduced from Derain, from Old French dererain, nickname for the youngest son of a family; see derrière.

1. Surname.
2. A city in Douglas County, Oregon.