Downpour

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈdaʊn.pɔː(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. A sudden, heavy rainfall of great intensity and volume that falls rapidly from the sky
2. A sudden and intense cascade of rain that falls heavily and swiftly from the clouds, often causing immediate water accumulation on the earth's surface
3. An abrupt and copious fall of rain characterized by its intensity, which can lead to swift water pooling on the ground

Etymology: "Downpour" is a plain compound: "down" combined with "pour," the verb meaning to flow or fall in a steady stream. The sense of "down" here is the downward direction of the falling water, so the word literally describes rain pouring down. Its meaning has stayed close to that picture, applied to rain that falls heavily and suddenly. The word also has a neat parallel in other European languages. Czech "liják," Polish "ulewa," Slovene "naliv," and Russian "ливень" (lívenʹ) all describe a similarly violent downpour, and the Russian term is related to the verb "лить" (litʹ), "to pour." Languages that have nothing in common with English reached for the same image of liquid being poured out, showing how natural the idea of rain as something poured is.

Synonyms: rainstorm, deluge, cloudburst