noun / adjective
rainbow
RAYN-boh/ˈreɪnbəʊ/
A curved display of colors produced by sunlight in water droplets.
A bright rainbow stretches across the sky after the storm.
Etymology
The pieces name an arch associated with rain: boga could mean anything bent or arched, including an archery bow. The colored arc is thus described by its curved shape.
In context
For example, if raindrops spread white light into colors like a prism, then why do you never see a rainbow when looking in the direction of the sun?
More examples
- Sunlight creates tiny rainbows in the fountain's mist.
- She wears a rainbow scarf with stripes of many colors.
- A rainbow coalition of local groups supports the new library.
Forms
rainbow · rainbows