rainbow

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A curved band of colours in the sky, formed when sunlight passes through rain.

   After the storm, a beautiful rainbow appeared over the hills.

2. 2
   noun

   A wide variety of different things.

   The shop sells a whole rainbow of paint colours.

From Middle English reynbowe, raynbowe, from Old English reġnboga (“rainbow”), from Proto-West Germanic *regnabogō, from Proto-Germanic *regnabugô (“rainbow”), equivalent to rain + bow (“arch”). Cognate with West Frisian reinbôge (“rainbow”), Dutch regenboog (“rainbow”), German Regenbogen (“rainbow”), Danish regnbue (“rainbow”), Swedish regnbåge (“rainbow”), Icelandic regnbogi (“rainbow”).

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