Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

acid rain

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.26 in modern English

Syllables: acid rain
IPA

11

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

1

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Rain which is unusually acidic (pH of less than the natural range of 5 to 6); caused mainly by atmospheric pollution with sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen compounds.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Acid rain forms when water in the atmosphere condenses on particles containing acid-forming pollutants, such as sulfate produced by the burning of fossil fuels and nitrogen oxides from automobile exhausts."

Etymology

Coined in 1872 by Scottish chemist Robert Angus Smith.

Usage

Inflected Forms

acid rains (plural)

Synonyms

acid precipitation

Questions

What does acid rain mean?: Rain which is unusually acidic (pH of less than the natural range of 5 to 6); caused mainly by atmospheric pollution with sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen compounds.
Where does acid rain come from?: Coined in 1872 by Scottish chemist Robert Angus Smith.

How to pronounce acid rain

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