shower
/ˈʃaʊə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈʃaʊər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈshau̇(-ə)r/ (ame, mw) · /ʃaʊər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈʃaʊ.ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
shower — noun
- showersingular
- showersplural
1. a piece of bathroom equipment that sprays water from above so you can wash your
a piece of bathroom equipment that sprays water from above so you can wash your body while standing under it
The shower in the guest bathroom has two different water settings.
collocation: two water settings
Ziad installed a new glass shower last weekend.
collocation: install a shower
This old shower makes a loud noise when you turn the handle.
A clean shower head helps the water flow evenly.
- showerhead
refers only to the part that sprays water, not the whole fixture
文法句型
the shower
a shower
用法筆記
Often used with 'fix', 'install', or 'repair' when talking about the hardware.
2. the activity of washing your body by standing under a spray of water that falls
the activity of washing your body by standing under a spray of water that falls from above
Élise takes a cold shower every morning before work.
collocation: take a shower
After the race, Aarav needed a long hot shower to relax his muscles.
collocation: hot shower
A quick shower is often enough after a day at the office.
Maeve sang in the shower while getting ready for the party.
文法句型
have a shower
take a shower
用法筆記
Typically appears in the fixed phrases 'take a shower' (more American) or 'have a shower' (more British).
常見錯誤
3. a small room or corner of a bathroom designed for standing under a spray of wate
a small room or corner of a bathroom designed for standing under a spray of water to wash yourself
The shower in the gym has a tiled floor and a wooden bench.
Lan scrubbed the shower walls until they were completely clean.
collocation: clean the shower
A small light inside the shower helps you see when you wash at night.
The hotel room had a large shower with a glass door.
- shower stall
specifically the enclosed standing area with walls or a curtain
- shower cubicle
chiefly British, a small enclosed area for showering
文法句型
in the shower
the shower
用法筆記
Often preceded by 'in' as in 'in the shower'. Can also refer to a separate shower stall in a shared bathroom.
4. rain or snow that falls for a short while and then stops, often quite suddenly
rain or snow that falls for a short while and then stops, often quite suddenly
A light shower in the morning cooled the city streets.
collocation: light shower
Gabriela got caught in a sudden shower while walking home from school.
collocation: sudden shower
The weather report says we may have scattered showers this evening.
Heavy showers are expected across the coast later tonight.
- downpour
much heavier and more intense than a shower
- drizzle
very light rain with tiny drops
- cloudburst
sudden very heavy rain, less common
- drought
a long period without rain
文法句型
a shower of + noun
scattered showers
用法筆記
Modified by 'light', 'heavy', 'scattered' to describe intensity and coverage. 'Scattered showers' suggests they occur in different places rather than continuously.
常見錯誤
5. a burst of many small items or droplets that fly through the air at once
a burst of many small items or droplets that fly through the air at once
A shower of sparks flew up from the campfire into the night air.
collocation: shower of sparks
The fireworks exploded into a shower of gold and red lights.
A shower of confetti fell on the dancers during the carnival parade.
Yasmin felt a shower of cold water from the broken pipe above her.
文法句型
a shower of + plural noun
用法筆記
Always followed by 'of' plus a plural noun naming the objects that are falling. The objects are usually small and numerous.
6. a great quantity of things, especially praise, gifts, or criticism, arriving all
a great quantity of things, especially praise, gifts, or criticism, arriving all at once
The winner received a shower of praise from the judges and the audience.
collocation: shower of praise
The actor faced a shower of criticism after making those comments.
collocation: shower of criticism
Tyler got a shower of gifts on his last day at the office.
Her speech brought a shower of compliments from the audience.
- trickle
a very small, slow amount
文法句型
a shower of + abstract noun
用法筆記
Almost always figurative, using abstract nouns like 'praise', 'criticism', 'compliments', 'gifts'. The sense extends the 'shower of objects' metaphor to non-physical things.
7. a party where friends bring gifts for a bride-to-be or an expectant mother
a party where friends bring gifts for a bride-to-be or an expectant mother
Nia's friends planned a baby shower with cakes and balloons.
collocation: baby shower
The bridal shower was held at a small restaurant near the park.
collocation: bridal shower
Sirin received beautiful towels and kitchen tools at her wedding shower.
Everyone at the baby shower played guessing games about the baby.
- celebration
more general, not specific to gift-giving for a bride or mother-to-be
- gift-giving party
descriptive but less common as a fixed term
文法句型
a baby shower
a bridal shower
have a shower for + person
用法筆記
Commonly combined with 'baby' or 'bridal' to specify the occasion. 'Baby shower' celebrates an expected birth; 'bridal/wedding shower' celebrates an upcoming marriage.
常見錯誤
shower — verb
- showerpresent simple I / you / we / they
- showers3rd person singular
- showering-ing form
- showeredpast simple
1. to fall or be released in a spray-like manner; or to cause something to fall thi
to fall or be released in a spray-like manner; or to cause something to fall this way — for example, leaves showering down from a tree, or showering water over dry plants
Dead leaves showered down from the trees during the autumn wind.
intransitive: shower down
Small stones showered onto the road after the hillside gave way.
The gardener showered water over the dry plants with a hose.
Sparks showered from the fire and landed on the dry grass.
文法句型
something showers down
shower something on/over someone
be showered with something
用法筆記
Can be intransitive (things shower down/from) or transitive (shower something on/over someone). The transitive use is less common than the intransitive use.
2. to wash your body by standing under a spray of water from above
to wash your body by standing under a spray of water from above
Christopher usually showers right after his morning run.
collocation: shower after exercise
Eli showered before breakfast and dressed quickly for school.
The whole team showered together after the long football practice.
Anya needs to shower before the guests arrive for dinner.
- wash
more general — can refer to cleaning any part of the body or objects; 'shower' is specific to standing under a spray
文法句型
shower + time phrase
shower after/before + noun
用法筆記
Almost always intransitive — you do not 'shower your body'. The fixed phrases 'take a shower' or 'have a shower' (noun sense 2) are used more commonly than this verb in everyday speech.