drain
word
Definition
As a noun, a drain is a pipe or hole that carries away water or other liquid. As a verb, it means to let liquid flow out, or to slowly use up energy, money, or other resources.
Usage & Nuances
Very common as both noun and verb. For water, use collocations like 'kitchen drain', 'floor drain', and 'drain the sink'. For resources, common patterns are 'drain your energy', 'drain resources', and 'a drain on time/money'. 'Drains' in plumbing is countable; the resource meaning is often abstract.
Example Sentences
Water is going down the drain.
basic
Please drain the pasta before serving it.
basic
This game can drain your phone battery fast.
basic
All that extra paperwork really drains me by the end of the day.
natural
We spent so much on repairs that it felt like money going down the drain.
natural
If the sink won’t drain, there’s probably something stuck in the pipe.
natural