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.

• to take a shower

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

shower / ʃaʊə r / / ʃaʊr / noun (WASHING DEVICE)

A1 [ C ] a device that releases drops of water through a lot of very small holes and that you stand under to wash your whole body:

The shower is broken - you'll have to have a bath.

Many British homes have a shower attachment fixed to the bath taps.

a shower curtain/cap

A1 [ C ] a wash using such a device:

Have I got time to have ( US take ) a shower before we go out?

A1 [ C ] a place, usually in a bathroom, where a shower is situated:

He's in the shower at the moment. Would you like him to phone you back?

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

shower / ʃaʊə r / / ʃaʊr / noun [ C ] (RAIN)

B1 a short period of rain or snow:

showers of rain, hail and sleet

You're soaked! Did you get caught in the shower?

There will be thundery/wintry showers over many parts of the country.

Snow showers are expected at the end of the week.

shower / ʃaʊə r / / ʃaʊr / noun (MASS)

a shower of sth a lot of small objects or drops of liquid coming through the air:

There was a bang and a shower of sparks .

The pipe burst, sending out a shower of water.

a large amount of something:

She received a shower of praise from her colleagues.

shower / ʃaʊə r / / ʃaʊr / noun [ C ] US (PARTY)

a party held for a woman just before she gets married or gives birth to a child, when she is given presents for her future home or baby:

I bought the cutest baby clothes to take to Jacey's baby shower.

We went to my cousin's bridal shower yesterday.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

shower

/ʃaʊə(r)/
(showers, showering, showered)

1.
A shower is a device for washing yourself. It consists of a pipe which ends in a flat cover with a lot of holes in it so that water comes out in a spray.
She heard him turn on the shower.
N-COUNT

2.
A shower is a small enclosed area containing a shower.
N-COUNT

3.
The showers or the shower in a place such as a sports centre is the area containing showers.
The showers are a mess...
We all stood in the women’s shower.
N-COUNT

4.
If you have a shower, you wash yourself by standing under a spray of water from a shower.
I think I’ll have a shower before dinner...
She took two showers a day.
N-COUNT

5.
If you shower, you wash yourself by standing under a spray of water from a shower.
There wasn’t time to shower or change clothes.
VERB: V

6.
A shower is a short period of rain, especially light rain.
There’ll be bright or sunny spells and scattered showers this afternoon.
N-COUNT

7.
You can refer to a lot of things that are falling as a shower of them.
Showers of sparks flew in all directions.
N-COUNT: usu N of n

8.
If you are showered with a lot of small objects or pieces, they are scattered over you.
They were showered with rice in the traditional manner...
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed with n

9.
If you shower a person with presents or kisses, you give them a lot of presents or kisses in a very generous and extravagant way.
He showered her with emeralds and furs...
Her parents showered her with kisses.
VERB: V n with n, V n with n

10.
A shower is a party or celebration at which the guests bring gifts.; If you refer to a group of people as a particular kind of shower, you disapprove of them. (mainly AM BRIT INFORMAL)
...a baby shower.
...a shower of wasters.
N-COUNT; N-SING: usu sing, oft N of n [disapproval]

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

¹show·er /ˈʃawɚ/ noun, pl -ers [count]
1 a : a device that produces a spray of water for you to stand under and wash your body
b : a room or an enclosed area in a room that contains a shower
• My hotel room had a shower but no bathtub.
• a shower curtain/stall
• I couldn't answer the phone because I was in the shower.
• The team hit the showers after practice. [=the team went to the locker room and used the showers there after practice]
- see picture at bathroom
c : the act of washing your body with a shower
• She took a shower after her run. = (Brit) She had a shower after her run.
• a shower cap [=a cap that you wear while you are taking a shower]
2 a : a brief fall of rain or snow over a small area
• Light/Heavy showers are expected later today.
- see also thundershower
b : a large number of small things that fall or happen at the same time - often + of
• a shower of sparks/tears
• He gave the baby a shower of kisses. [=he showered the baby with kisses]
3 US : a party where gifts are given to a woman who is going to be married or have a baby
• a bridal/baby shower