drain

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Drained p. pr. & vb. n. Draining. ] [ AS. drehnigean to drain, strain; perh. akin to E. draw. ] 1. To draw off by degrees; to cause to flow gradually out or off; hence, to cause the exhaustion of. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fountains drain the water from the ground adjacent. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

But it was not alone that the he drained their treasure and hampered their industry. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To exhaust of liquid contents by drawing them off; to make gradually dry or empty; to remove surface water, as from streets, by gutters, etc.; to deprive of moisture; hence, to exhaust; to empty of wealth, resources, or the like; as, to drain a country of its specie. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sinking waters, the firm land to drain,
Filled the capacious deep and formed the main. Roscommon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To filter. [ 1913 Webster ]

Salt water, drained through twenty vessels of earth, hath become fresh. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To flow gradually; as, the water of low ground drains off. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To become emptied of liquor by flowing or dropping; as, let the vessel stand and drain. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being drained. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A draining; a gradual flowing off of any liquid; also, that which flows out of a drain. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The mode in which the waters of a country pass off by its streams and rivers. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Engin.) The system of drains and their operation, by which superfluous water is removed from towns, railway beds, mines, and other works. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Area or district drained; as, the drainage of the Po, the Thames, etc. Latham. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Surg.) The act, process, or means of drawing off the pus or fluids from a wound, abscess, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Drainage tube (Surg.), a tube introduced into a wound, etc., to draw off the discharges. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a board beside a kitchen sink having a surface inclined so as to drain into the sink.
Syn. -- draining board. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ F. ] (Zool.) The missel thrush. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. having lost much energy or emotion from vigorous activity; -- of people; as, the day's events left her completely drained of strength. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. having resources completely depleted.
Syn. -- depleted. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. having no power remaining; -- of a battery.
Syn. -- run-down. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

to go down the drain 1. to be consumed in profitless activity; to be wasted; to become worthless. 2. to vanish or cease existing. [ PJC ]

n. One who, or that which, drains. [ 1913 Webster ]