rainbow

5 definitions found

rainbow - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Rainbow \Rain"bow`\ (r[=a]n"b[=o]`), n. [AS. regenboga, akin to
     G. regenbogen. See Rain, and Bow anything bent.]
     A bow or arch exhibiting, in concentric bands, the several
     colors of the spectrum, and formed in the part of the
     hemisphere opposite to the sun by the refraction and
     reflection of the sun's rays in drops of falling rain.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Besides the ordinary bow, called also primary rainbow,
           which is formed by two refractions and one reflection,
           there is also another often seen exterior to it, called
           the secondary rainbow, concentric with the first, and
           separated from it by a small interval. It is formed by
           two refractions and two reflections, is much fainter
           than the primary bow, and has its colors arranged in
           the reverse order from those of the latter.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Lunar rainbow, a fainter arch or rainbow, formed by the
        moon.
  
     Marine rainbow, Sea bow, a similar bow seen in the spray
        of waves at sea.
  
     Rainbow trout (Zool.), a bright-colored trout (Salmo  irideus
        ), native of the mountains of California, but now
        extensively introduced into the Eastern States, Japan, and
        other countries; -- called also brook trout, mountain  trout
        , and golden trout.
  
     Rainbow wrasse. (Zool.) See under Wrasse.
  
     Supernumerary rainbow, a smaller bow, usually of red and
        green colors only, sometimes seen within the primary or
        without the secondary rainbow, and in contact with them.
        [1913 Webster]

rainbow - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  rainbow
      n 1: an arc of colored light in the sky caused by refraction of
           the sun's rays by rain
      2: an illusory hope; "chasing rainbows"

rainbow - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary :

  Rainbow
  caused by the reflection and refraction of the rays of the sun
  shining on falling rain. It was appointed as a witness of the
  divine faithfulness (Gen. 9:12-17). It existed indeed before,
  but it was then constituted as a sign of the covenant. Others,
  however (as Delitzsch, Commentary on Pentateuch), think that it
  "appeared then for the first time in the vault and clouds of
  heaven." It is argued by those holding this opinion that the
  atmosphere was differently constituted before the Flood. It is
  referred to three other times in Scripture (Ezek. 1:27, 28; Rev.
  4:1-3; 10:1).

rainbow - U.S. Gazetteer (1990) :

  Rainbow, CA (CDP, FIPS 59248)
    Location: 33.40520 N, 117.14748 W
    Population (1990): 2006 (727 housing units)
    Area: 41.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
  Rainbow, TX
    Zip code(s): 76077

rainbow - Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :

  185 Moby Thesaurus words for "rainbow":
     Amytal, Amytal pill, Dalmatian, Demerol, Dolophine, H, Luminal,
     Luminal pill, M, Mickey Finn, Nembutal, Nembutal pill, Seconal,
     Seconal pill, Tuinal, Tuinal pill, alcohol, amobarbital sodium,
     analgesic, angry clouds, anodyne, anthelion, antigorite, antisun,
     aura, aureole, barb, barbiturate, barbiturate pill, black cat,
     black clouds, black stuff, blue, blue angel, blue devil,
     blue heaven, blue velvet, broken mirror, butterfly, calmative,
     candy cane, chameleon, cheetah, chimera, chloral hydrate,
     chromatic, chrysotile, circle, codeine, codeine cough syrup, cold,
     colorific, coloring, confetti, cool, corona, countersun,
     crazy quilt, depressant, depressor, dichromatic, dolly, downer,
     dream, fantasy, firedog, gathering clouds, glory, glowing,
     goofball, halcyon bird, halo, hard stuff, harlequin, harmonious,
     heroin, hop, horse, hypnotic, illusion, iridescence, iris, jaguar,
     junk, knockout drops, laudanum, leopard, liquor, lotus,
     lunar corona, lunar halo, mackerel, mackerel sky, many-colored,
     marble, marbled paper, matching, medley, meperidine, methadone,
     mock moon, mock sun, moire, monochromatic, monochrome, monochromic,
     moon dog, morphia, morphine, mother-of-pearl,
     mother-of-pearl cloud, motley, nacre, nacreousness, narcotic,
     nimbus, ocelot, opal, opalescence, ophite, opiate, opium, owl,
     pacifier, pain killer, paraselene, paregoric, parhelic circle,
     parhelion, parti-colored, patchwork quilt, peacock, pearliness,
     pen yan, phenobarbital, phenobarbital sodium, pigmentary, pipe,
     polychromatic, prismatic, purple heart, quietener, raven, red,
     ring, scag, secobarbital sodium, sedative, serpentine,
     serpentine marble, shit, shooting star, shot silk, sleep-inducer,
     sleeper, sleeping draught, sleeping pill, smack, sodium thiopental,
     solar corona, solar halo, somnifacient, soother, soothing syrup,
     soporific, spectral, spectrum, storm clouds, stormy petrel,
     sun dog, tar, thundercloud, thunderhead, tinctorial, tingent,
     toning, tortoise shell, tranquilizer, turps, variegated, warm,
     white stuff, yellow, yellow jacket, zebra