rainfall

UK: ˈreɪnfɔːl | US: ˈreɪnfɔːl

Definition

  1. n. the amount of rain that falls in a specific area during a given period

  2. n. an instance or occurrence of rain

Structure
rain <precipitation>fall <descend>
Etymology

The word "rainfall" is a compound formed from two Old English roots:

  1. "Rain" derives from Old English regn, meaning "precipitation," traced back to Proto-Germanic *regna-.
  2. "Fall" comes from Old English feallan, meaning "to descend," from Proto-Germanic *fallaną.
    The combination logically describes rain "falling" from the sky, later specialized to measure the quantity of precipitation. The term reflects a straightforward Germanic compounding pattern, where two concrete actions merge to create a measurable natural phenomenon.
Examples

  1. The annual rainfall in this region exceeds 2,000 millimeters.

  2. Heavy rainfall caused flooding in the coastal areas.

  3. Farmers rely on consistent rainfall for their crops.

  4. The meteorologist predicted light rainfall for tomorrow.

  5. Deforestation can significantly reduce local rainfall over time.