Definition of RAINBOW

rainbow

Meanings

Plural: rainbows

Noun

  • an arc of colored light in the sky caused by refraction of the sun's rays by rain
  • an illusory hope
    • "chasing rainbows"
  • A multicoloured arch in the sky, produced by prismatic refraction of light within droplets of rain in the air.
  • Any prismatic refraction of light showing a spectrum of colours.
  • A wide assortment; a varied multitude.
  • An illusion; a mirage.
  • A curveball, particularly a slow one.
  • A trick in which the player makes the ball arc over the opponent's head using both feet; rainbow kick
  • In Texas hold 'em or Omaha hold 'em, a flop that contains three different suits.
  • Rainbow trout.
  • A person within the LGBT community.

Adj

  • Multicolored, especially if in rainbow order.
  • Made up of several races or ethnicities, or (more broadly) of several cultural or ideological factions.
  • LGBT.
  • Composed entirely of different suits.
  • Of or pertaining to rainbow tables.

Verb

  • To brighten with, or as with, a rainbow; to pattern with the colours of the rainbow.
  • To take the appearance of a rainbow.
  • In climbing gyms where the rocks to climb are colored to indicate suggested climbing routes, to climb rocks of different colors, thereby ignoring such routes.

Origin / 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”).

Scrabble Score: 12

rainbow is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
rainbow is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
rainbow is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

rainbow is a valid Words With Friends word