shower

Everyday

1. A device that sprays water on you from above to wash your body, or the act of washing under it. tree →
2. A short period of rain or snow: April showers. tree →
3. A lot of small things falling together: a shower of sparks, a meteor shower. tree →
4. As a verb, to wash under a shower, or to give someone a lot of something: shower them with gifts. tree →
5. A party where people bring presents, like a baby shower (mainly American). tree →

In the lessons

In hygiene, a shower washes off sweat and dirt; use soap, and shower after sport or swimming. In safety, check the water temperature first so you do not get scalded, and watch for slippery floors. In weather and science, showers are short bursts of rain from clouds; a meteor shower is many shooting stars. Showers use less water than baths if they are short, which saves water. Phrases: "have/take a shower", "shower gel", "rain showers", "meteor shower", "showered with".

Examples

• I have a shower after football. tree →
• Check the water isn't too hot before you get in the shower. tree →
• The forecast says sunny with light showers. tree →
• We watched a meteor shower at night. tree →
• A shower of leaves fell from the tree. tree →
• The bathroom floor is slippery after a shower. tree →
• A five-minute shower saves water. tree →
• Her grandparents showered her with hugs. tree →
• There fell a shower of snow. tree →

Note

Pronounced to rhyme with "flower". British English: "have a shower"; American English: "take a shower". Countable: a shower, showers. In maths, if a shower uses 10 litres a minute, a 5-minute shower uses 10 × 5 = 50 litres.

In Jewish tradition

In hygiene, a shower washes off sweat and dirt; use soap, and shower after sport or swimming. In safety, check the water temperature first so you do not get scalded, and watch for slippery floors. In weather and science, showers are short bursts of rain from clouds; a meteor shower is many shooting stars. Showers use less water than baths if they are short, which saves water. Phrases: "have/take a shower", "shower gel", "rain showers", "meteor shower", "showered with".

Examples

• My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew; as the small rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb. (Torah DEU.32.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. (Writings PSA.72.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. (Writings JOB.24.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? (Prophets JER.14.22, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Pronounced to rhyme with "flower". British English: "have a shower"; American English: "take a shower". Countable: a shower, showers. In maths, if a shower uses 10 litres a minute, a 5-minute shower uses 10 × 5 = 50 litres.