rainbow

[ reyn-boh ]
/ ˈreɪnˌboʊ /

noun

adjective

having a diverse membership; including representatives from multiple racial and ethnic groups: a rainbow coalition of minority groups.

Origin of rainbow

before 1000; Middle English reinbowe, Old English regnboga; cognate with Old Norse regnbogi, German Regenbogen. See rain, bow2

OTHER WORDS FROM rainbow

rain·bow·y, rain·bow·like, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for rainbow

British Dictionary definitions for rainbow (1 of 2)

rainbow
/ (ˈreɪnˌbəʊ) /

noun

a bow-shaped display in the sky of the colours of the spectrum, caused by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays through rain or mist
  1. any similar display of bright colours
  2. (as modifier)a rainbow pattern
an illusory hope to chase rainbows
(modifier) of or relating to a political grouping together by several minorities, esp of different races the rainbow coalition

British Dictionary definitions for rainbow (2 of 2)

Rainbow
/ (ˈreɪnˌbəʊ) /

noun

a member of the Rainbow Guides, the youngest group of girls (aged 5-7 years) in The Guide Association

Scientific definitions for rainbow

rainbow
[ rānbō′ ]

An arc-shaped spectrum of color seen in the sky opposite the Sun, especially after rain, caused by the refraction and reflection of sunlight by droplets of water suspended in the air. Secondary rainbows that are larger and paler sometimes appear within the primary arc with the colors reversed (red being inside). These result from two reflections and refractions of a light ray inside a droplet.

Cultural definitions for rainbow

rainbow

The colored arch in the sky that is often seen after a rain. The rainbow is formed when water droplets in the air cause the diffraction of sunlight.

notes for rainbow

The colors of the rainbow are violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red.