rainbow
/ˈɹeɪnboʊ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.07 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A multicoloured arch in the sky, produced by prismatic refraction of light within droplets of rain in the air.
noun
A wide assortment; a varied multitude.
noun
A curveball, particularly a slow one.
noun
A trick in which the player makes the ball arc over the opponent's head using both feet; rainbow kick
noun
Example Sentences
- "Why are there so many songs about rainbows And what's on the other side? Rainbows are visions, but only illusions And rainbows have nothing to hide."
- "a rainbow of possibilities"
- "Many electoral promises are rainbows, vanishing soon after poll day."
- "Finally, by actual trial, I have found that I can catch more rainbow by using one fly than with a two or three-fly cast."
- "Oh look, the rainbow came back."
- "That Asian-American actor Thomas Ikeda contributes a pleasingly frantic Panthino would not be considered rainbow enough."
Etymology
From Middle English reynbowe, raynbowe, from Old English reġnboga (“rainbow”), from Proto-West Germanic *regnabogō, from Proto-Germanic *regnabugô (“rainbow”), equivalent to rain + bow (“arch”). Cognate with West Frisian reinbôge (“rainbow”), Dutch regenboog (“rainbow”), German Regenbogen (“rainbow”), Danish regnbue (“rainbow”), Swedish regnbåge (“rainbow”), Icelandic regnbogi (“rainbow”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *bʰewgʰ-, reynbowe, reġnboga, *regnabogō, *regnabugô, -
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɹeɪnboʊ/
- British English: /ˈɹeɪnbəʊ/
Usage
- Slang
- Derogatory
- American usage
- Transitive verb
- Intransitive verb
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Law, People.
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
Frequently Paired Words
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