shower

I. show‧er¹ S2 /ˈʃaʊə $ ʃaʊr/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: scur]
1. FOR WASHING IN a piece of equipment that you stand under to wash your whole body:
Why does the phone always ring when I’m in the shower?
I’d like to use the shower if that’s all right.
The bathroom has a separate shower cubicle (=a shower in a separate part of the room).
2. ACT OF WASHING an act of washing your body while standing under a shower:
I need a shower.
take a shower
Nick rolled out of bed and took a shower.
have a shower especially British English:
Mary loves having a hot shower after she’s been swimming.
3. RAIN a short period of rain or snow:
More heavy showers are forecast for tonight.
a shower of rain
a snow shower
A few wintry showers are likely.
4. LOTS OF THINGS a lot of small light things falling or going through the air together
shower of
Peter kicked the fire and sent up a shower of sparks.
A shower of leaves fell towards the ground.
5. PARTY American English a party at which presents are given to a woman who is going to get married or have a baby:
We gave a shower for Beth.
a baby shower
6. PEOPLE [usually singular] British English informal a group of stupid or lazy people
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ rain noun [uncountable] water that falls in small drops from clouds in the sky: The rain has stopped at last. | There had been heavy rain during the night.
▪ drizzle noun [uncountable] light rain with very small drops of water: A light drizzle was falling as I left the house.
▪ shower noun [countable] a short period of rain that can be heavy or light: More heavy showers are forecast for tonight. | a light shower of rain
▪ downpour noun [countable usually singular] a short period of very heavy rain that starts suddenly: A sudden downpour sent us running for shelter. | a torrential downpour
▪ hail noun [uncountable] frozen rain that falls in the form of ↑hailstones (=small balls of ice): The hail and high winds have destroyed many of the county’s crops.
▪ sleet noun [uncountable] a mixture of snow and rain: The rain had turned to sleet | Sleet and snow fell.
▪ the rains noun [plural] heavy rain that falls during a particular period in the year in tropical countries: The farmers are waiting for the rains to come.
▪ monsoon noun [countable ] the heavy rain that falls between April and October in India and other southern Asian countries: The monsoon is late this year. | the monsoon season

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

shower

shower [shower showers showered showering] noun, verb [ˈʃaʊə(r)] [ˈʃaʊər]

noun
1. a piece of equipment producing a spray of water that you stand under to wash yourself; the small room or part of a room that contains a shower
• a hotel room with bath and shower
• He's in the shower.
• a shower cubicle
• a shower curtain

2. the act of washing yourself with a shower: (especially BrE) to have a shower
• (especially NAmE) to take a shower

• shower gel

3. a short period of rain or snow
• scattered showers
• April showers
• We were caught in a heavy shower.
• snow showers

• wintry showers (= of snow)

4. a large number of things that arrive or fall together
• a shower of leaves
• a shower of sparks from the fire

• a shower of kisses

5. (NAmE) a party at which you give presents to a woman who is getting married or having a baby
• a bridal/baby shower
Word Origin:
Old English scūr ‘light fall of rain, hail, etc.’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schoer and German Schauer.
Thesaurus:
shower noun
1. C
• He's in the shower just now.
bath • • wash •
in the shower/bath
need/have a shower/bath/wash
take a shower/bath
2. C
• We got caught in a heavy shower.
downpour • • rain • • drizzle •
(a) heavy shower/downpour/rain
a sudden shower/downpour
be/get caught in a shower/a downpour/the rain
3. C, usually sing. (usually followed by of) (written)
• The fire sent out a shower of sparks.
volley • |written hail •
a shower/volley/hail of arrows/bullets/stones
Example Bank:
• After the game, the boys hit the showers.
• He could hear the shower running in the bathroom.
• I got a shower invitation from Katie.
• I'll just take a quick shower.
• Scattered showers during the afternoon will die out by late evening.
• Scattered showers will die out by late evening.
• The grinding wheel sent out a shower of sparks.
• The plans include changing facilities and shower blocks.
• They decided to brave the showers and headed for the coast.
• a baby shower for my sister
• A bridal shower is usually organized by the bridesmaids.
• A log in the fire broke and fell, sending out a shower of sparks.
• Despite occasional April showers, the tennis season started in great style yesterday.
• He pushed the couch so that it banged against the wall and released a shower of dust.
• He's in the shower at the moment — can you call back later?
• Scattered wintry showers over western areas will become more widespread as the evening goes on.
• The white seeds drifted down in a slow shower against the blue sky.
• We got caught in a heavy shower.