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show·er 1 (shouər)
Share:
n.
1. A brief fall of precipitation, such as rain, hail, or sleet.
2. A fall of a group of objects, especially from the sky: a meteor shower; a shower of leaves.
3. An abundant flow; an outpouring: a shower of praise.
4. A party held to honor and present gifts to someone: a bridal shower.
5.
a. A bath in which the water is sprayed on the bather in fine streams from a showerhead, usually secured overhead: take a shower.
b. The stall or tub in which such a bath is taken.
v. show·ered, show·er·ing, show·ers
v.tr.
1.
a. To throw or cause to fall in a shower: showered confetti on the parade.
b. To throw or cause small things or pieces to fall over: showered the newlyweds with rice.
c. To fall over or be thrown or projected at: The confetti showered the street.
2.
a. To give or bestow abundantly or liberally: showered confetti on the parade.
b. To give something in great abundance to: showered their children with affection.
v.intr.
1. To wash oneself in a shower.
2.
a. To fall or pour down in a shower.
b. To arrive or be given in abundance: Good wishes showered over us.

[Middle English shour, from Old English scūr.]

shower·y adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.