shower
B1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A brief fall of rain, hail, sleet, or snow; or a device/act of washing oneself under a spray of water.
A party where gifts are given to someone (e.g., baby shower); a large number of things arriving or happening at the same time; to bestow something in abundance.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word spans concrete (weather, bathroom fixture) and abstract/metaphorical uses (shower of praise, gift-giving event). As a verb, it can be transitive or intransitive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'shower' can be a derogatory slang term for a group of incompetent people. 'Baby shower' is more deeply culturally embedded in the US but is now common in the UK. 'Shower cap' is the common term in both.
Connotations
In US English, 'shower' as a gift-giving event is a strong cultural concept. In UK slang, 'shower' as a collective noun has negative connotations.
Frequency
The bathroom sense is extremely high-frequency in both. The 'party' sense is very high-frequency in US English, high in UK English. The derogatory collective noun is low-frequency and primarily UK.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] I need to shower.[V n] She showered the child with kisses.[V n on n] They showered gifts on the newlyweds.[V n with n] He was showered with praise.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “April showers bring May flowers”
- “a shower of praise”
- “come in for a shower of criticism”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except metaphorically: 'The launch was showered with positive reviews.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing, except in meteorology or descriptive passages.
Everyday
Extremely common for hygiene and weather.
Technical
Used in meteorology (e.g., 'convective shower'), plumbing, and bathroom fitting specifications.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I'll just shower quickly before we leave.
- They were showered with confetti.
American English
- I need to shower before the meeting.
- The team was showered with accolades.
adverb
British English
- This gel is for shower use only.
- He entered the room shower-wet.
American English
- Apply the cream shower-damp.
- She stood there shower-ready.
adjective
British English
- We installed a new shower unit.
- The shower attachment is broken.
American English
- We're remodeling the shower stall.
- The shower faucet is leaking.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It rains a lot in spring, often just a short shower.
- I take a shower every morning.
- There will be scattered showers across the region this afternoon.
- Her colleagues organised a surprise baby shower.
- After the marathon, he stood under a cold shower for ten minutes.
- The invention was showered with awards at the international conference.
- The scandal resulted in a veritable shower of criticism from the press.
- He showered his grandchildren with expensive gifts, much to their parents' dismay.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a flower growing under a SHOWER of rain and then a person taking a SHOWER to get clean like the flower.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABUNDANCE IS A DOWNPOUR / AFFECTION IS LIQUID (e.g., shower with love).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'baby shower' literally as 'детский душ'. Use the borrowed term 'бэби шоуэр' or describe it as 'праздник в честь будущего ребёнка'.
- The verb 'to shower' (to wash) is 'принимать душ', not 'душить'.
- A 'shower' of meteors is 'метеорный поток', not 'метеорный душ'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I shower me every morning.' Correct: 'I shower / have a shower every morning.'
- Incorrect: 'He took a shower to the dog.' Correct: 'He gave the dog a shower.' or 'He showered the dog.'
Practice
Quiz
In UK slang, what can 'a shower' refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. 'Take a shower' is more common in American English; 'have a shower' is more common in British English.
Yes. It means to wash oneself under a spray of water (intransitive: 'I showered.') or to bestow something abundantly (transitive: 'They showered her with gifts.').
A party held for a pregnant woman, where guests give gifts for the expected baby. It's a tradition originating in the US, now common in many other countries.
Rain is a more general term. A 'shower' specifically implies a short, often sudden, period of rain (or snow, etc.), usually of light to moderate intensity, with breaks in between.
Collections
Part of a collection
Daily Routine
A1 · 50 words · Words for describing your everyday activities and schedule.
Weather
A2 · 45 words · Describing the weather, climate and seasons.