1. [n]  emptying accomplished by draining
2. [n]  a gradual depletion; "a drain on resources"
3. [n]  a pipe through which liquid is carried away
4. [n]  tube inserted into a body cavity (as during surgery) to remove unwanted material
5. [v]  make weak; "Life in the camp drained him"
6. [v]  flow off or away gradually; "The water drained from the pipe"
7. [v]  empty of liquid; drain the liquid from; "We drained the oil tank"
8. [v]  deplete of resources; "The exercise class drains me of energy"
9. [v]  flow off gradually; "The rain water drains into this big vat"

1. \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.
            Fountains drain the water from the ground adjacent.
                                                  --Bacon.
            But it was not alone that the he drained their
            treasure and hampered their industry. --Motley.
   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.
            Sinking waters, the firm land to drain, Filled the
            capacious deep and formed the main.   --Roscommon.
   3. To filter.
            Salt water, drained through twenty vessels of earth,
            hath become fresh.                    --Bacon.
   

2. \Drain\, v. i.
   1. To flow gradually; as, the water of low ground drains off.
   2. To become emptied of liquor by flowing or dropping; as,
      let the vessel stand and drain.
   

3. \Drain\, n.
   1. The act of draining, or of drawing off; gradual and
      continuous outflow or withdrawal; as, the drain of specie
      from a country.
   2. That means of which anything is drained; a channel; a
      trench; a water course; a sewer; a sink.
   3. pl. The grain from the mashing tub; as, brewers' drains.
      [Eng.] --Halliwell.
   {Box drain}, {Counter drain}. See under {Box}, {Counter}.
   {Right of drain} (Law), an easement or servitude by which one
      man has a right to convey water in pipes through or over
      the estate of another. --Kent.
   

[IBM] Synonym for flush. Has a connotation of finality about it; one speaks of draining a device before taking it off-line.

[Jargon File]