rainbow
rainbow — noun
1. The multicoloured shape that can be seen crossing the sky on a day when the sun
The multicoloured shape that can be seen crossing the sky on a day when the sun comes out while it is still raining.
After the rain stopped, Selim saw a beautiful rainbow above the hills.
used for a sky phenomenon after rain
The little girl pointed at the rainbow and shouted with joy.
A rainbow has seven colours, from red on the outside to violet in the centre.
countable noun: a rainbow / the rainbow
On sunny days with light rain, you can sometimes spot a rainbow in the sky.
Xiu painted a bright rainbow above a green field in art class.
- see a rainbow
- spot a rainbow
- rainbow in the sky
- rainbow colours
- rainbow appears
Grammar Patterns
a/the rainbow
Common Mistakes
2. The band of colours produced when white light is separated, for example by a gla
The band of colours produced when white light is separated, for example by a glass prism or by water drops in the air.
In science class, Sirin used a prism to create a rainbow on the wall.
uncountable: the effect of light separation
A prism splits white light into a rainbow of separate colours.
The rainbow produced by the window showed every colour found in sunlight.
Tendai explained how a rainbow forms when light bends inside water drops.
- create a rainbow
- form a rainbow
- light splits into a rainbow
- rainbow of colours
- spectrum
the standard scientific term for this effect
- prismatic colours
more technical; refers specifically to colours from a prism
Grammar Patterns
a rainbow of colours
create/form a rainbow
Usage Note
This sense describes the scientific effect of light splitting into colours, distinct from sense 1 (the weather phenomenon) and sense 3 (a colourful arrangement of objects).
3. A wide and attractive group of many different colours arranged together in the s
A wide and attractive group of many different colours arranged together in the same place.
The market sold fabrics in a rainbow of colours, from deep blue to bright red.
pattern: a rainbow of colours
Léa arranged her coloured pencils in a rainbow order on the desk.
The flower garden was a rainbow of pink, yellow, and purple petals.
Children's picture books usually use a rainbow of bright colours.
- a rainbow of colours
- rainbow pattern
- rainbow order
- array
more formal; an impressive range of colours
- kaleidoscope
suggests constantly changing colours; more poetic
Grammar Patterns
a rainbow of + plural noun
Usage Note
Common in the pattern 'a rainbow of + noun' to describe a colourful mix. Unlike sense 2 (light spectrum), this refers to physical objects that happen to be colourful.
4. A large number of different types, kinds, or choices within a particular group.
A large number of different types, kinds, or choices within a particular group.
The shop offers a rainbow of choices for customers who love tea.
pattern: a rainbow of choices/options
A good library has a rainbow of books on many different subjects.
The street festival offered a rainbow of activities, from music stages to food stalls.
Imran owns a rainbow of board games from different countries.
- a rainbow of choices
- a rainbow of options
- a rainbow of flavours
- range
neutral; a set of different items within a category
- assortment
suggests a well-chosen mix of items
- variety
most common; emphasises diversity
Grammar Patterns
a rainbow of + plural noun
Usage Note
Unlike sense 3 (about actual colours), this sense is figurative and describes diversity of things. Common in promotional or descriptive writing.
Common Mistakes
5. A long river fish that has a pink or red stripe along each side and is caught fo
A long river fish that has a pink or red stripe along each side and is caught for food or as a sport.
Caio caught a large rainbow near the riverbank last weekend.
short form for rainbow trout; fishing context
The restaurant serves grilled rainbow with lemon and fresh herbs.
Rainbows need clean and cold rivers to stay healthy.
Omar learned how to fish for rainbow in the mountain streams.
- catch a rainbow
- fish for rainbow
- grilled rainbow
- rainbow trout
- trout
broader category; includes brown trout and other types
- rainbow trout
full name; clearer in most contexts
Grammar Patterns
a/the rainbow
Usage Note
Shortened form of 'rainbow trout', used mainly by people who fish. The full form 'rainbow trout' is more common in general English.
Common Mistakes
6. The youngest branch of the Girl Guides organization in Britain, for girls betwee
The youngest branch of the Girl Guides organization in Britain, for girls between the ages of four and seven.
Rachel's daughter joined the Rainbows when she turned four.
proper noun; always capitalised
The Rainbows meet every Tuesday afternoon at the church hall.
Rainbows learn songs, play games, and make crafts with their group leaders.
Jude's little sister loves wearing her Rainbows uniform to the meetings.
- join the Rainbows
- Rainbows meeting
- Rainbows uniform
- Rainbows group
Grammar Patterns
the Rainbows
a Rainbow
Usage Note
Always capitalised. Refers to the organization (the Rainbows) or an individual (a Rainbow). This is specific to Britain; other countries use different names for similar groups.
7. An organised session held for the Rainbows — the youngest branch of the Girlguid
An organised session held for the Rainbows — the youngest branch of the Girlguiding UK organisation, for girls aged four to seven — where they take part in activities, crafts, and badgework together.
Theo's little sister went to her first Rainbow meeting after school on Tuesday.
proper noun: Rainbows as UK Guides group
At the Rainbow meeting, the girls made paper crowns and sang songs together.
Lisa picked up her daughter from the Rainbow meeting at the community centre.
The Rainbow meeting this week focused on learning about local wildlife and plants.
- attend a Rainbow meeting
- Rainbow meeting this week
- take the girls to Rainbow meeting
Usage Note
Rainbow (capital R) refers specifically to the youngest section of Girlguiding UK, the national guiding organisation for girls and young women. This sense only appears in UK contexts and is not used in American English.
8. A girl aged between four and seven who has joined the Rainbows, the entry-level
A girl aged between four and seven who has joined the Rainbows, the entry-level section of the Girlguiding UK organisation, and takes part in its meetings and activities.
Zuri has been a Rainbow for six months and loves wearing her blue uniform.
countable: a Rainbow = one member of the group
The group of Rainbows marched in the town parade behind their leaders.
Every Rainbow learns a simple promise and starts earning badges just like older Guides.
The Rainbows raised money for a local animal shelter by selling homemade biscuits.
- become a Rainbow
- Rainbows wear a uniform
- join the Rainbows
Usage Note
Always capitalised when referring to a member of the UK Guiding organisation. The plural form is Rainbows (e.g. 'two Rainbows walked by'). Distinguish from sense 7 (RAINBOWS GROUP MEETING), which refers to the event rather than the person.
9. Something that seems wonderful and desirable but can never be reached or achieve
Something that seems wonderful and desirable but can never be reached or achieved in real life — like an imaginary perfect outcome that only exists in a person's dreams.
The promise of easy money was just a rainbow with nothing behind it.
metaphorical: a rainbow = an impossible dream
Niran chased the rainbow of fame for years before realising it was making him unhappy.
Environmentalists warned that the plan was a rainbow — attractive to read but impossible to build.
Eli knew the perfect job was a rainbow, but he kept searching anyway.
The minister called the new policy 'a rainbow', admitting it would never work.
- a rainbow
- chase a rainbow
- just a rainbow
- a political rainbow
- pipe dream
Informal; emphasises that the plan is unrealistic and will never happen
- fantasy
Broader; can refer to any imagined scenario, not necessarily a goal
- mirage
Emphasises the deceptive appearance of something real that is actually an illusion
- reality
What actually exists rather than what is wished for
Grammar Patterns
a rainbow
chase a/the rainbow
Usage Note
Commonly used in the fixed phrase 'chase a rainbow' (pursue an impossible dream). This is a literary or figurative sense; do not use it in literal contexts about weather or colours.
rainbow — adjective
1. showing many bright colours, especially in a striped or layered pattern that cal
showing many bright colours, especially in a striped or layered pattern that calls to mind a rainbow
Tamar painted a rainbow design across her bedroom wall last weekend.
attributive: rainbow design
The parade float was covered in rainbow ribbons and colourful balloons.
Rainbow banners lined both sides of the main shopping street.
attributive: rainbow banners / rainbow lights
The rainbow stripes on Élise's towel faded after many washes in the machine.
There was a rainbow pattern on each of the birthday party plates.
pattern: there was + rainbow + noun
- rainbow design
- rainbow flag
- rainbow pattern
- rainbow colours
- rainbow-coloured
- colourful
more general; does not imply striped or layered arrangement
- multicoloured
more formal; emphasises multiple colours without the rainbow metaphor
- bright
focuses on intensity rather than colour variety
- colourless
opposite in having no colour at all
- monochrome
opposite in having only one colour or shades of one colour
Grammar Patterns
rainbow + noun
2. made up of people from a range of different racial or ethnic backgrounds
made up of people from a range of different racial or ethnic backgrounds
The festival celebrated the city's rainbow communities with music and dance.
collocation: rainbow community / rainbow nation
Tanvi's school had a rainbow student body from over twenty different countries.
Growing up in a rainbow neighbourhood taught Ada to appreciate many different cultures.
attributive: rainbow neighbourhood
The organisation works to create rainbow workplaces where everyone feels welcome.
Rainbow families from across the region attended the annual cultural gathering.
collocation: rainbow families
- rainbow nation
- rainbow community
- rainbow population
- rainbow coalition
- multiracial
more direct and formal; 'rainbow' adds a poetic or positive tone
- diverse
broader; can refer to other kinds of variety beyond race
- multicultural
focuses on cultural rather than racial diversity
- monocultural
opposite in having only one cultural or racial group
- segregated
opposite in being divided by race
Grammar Patterns
rainbow + noun (community, nation, population)
Usage Note
Often used with nouns like 'community', 'nation', 'population', or 'workplace'. The phrase 'rainbow nation' is a well-known term for South Africa's post-apartheid multiracial society.
Common Mistakes
3. involving people or groups from different political parties, especially when the
involving people or groups from different political parties, especially when they form a temporary alliance to achieve a shared goal
The two parties formed a rainbow coalition to govern the country after the election.
fixed phrase: rainbow coalition
Rainbow alliances between opposing parties are common during times of national crisis.
collocation: rainbow alliance
Greta supported a rainbow government made up of members from all sides of the debate.
The prime minister proposed a rainbow approach to the new education reform bill.
collocation: rainbow approach
A rainbow committee of politicians from five different parties wrote the report together.
- rainbow coalition
- rainbow alliance
- rainbow government
- rainbow approach
- cross-party
more neutral and descriptive; 'rainbow' carries a more hopeful or positive tone
- bipartisan
specifically two parties; 'rainbow' can involve three or more
- coalition
noun form; 'rainbow coalition' emphasises broad and unusual cooperation
- partisan
opposite in being loyal to a single party
- single-party
opposite in involving only one political party
Grammar Patterns
rainbow + noun (coalition, alliance, government, group)
Usage Note
Typically found in political journalism and commentary about coalition governments or cross-party initiatives. The word implies bringing together groups that normally disagree.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- rainbow-colouredadjectiveB1
- rainbow troutnounB1
- rainbow flagnounB1
- rainbow nationnounB2
- rainbow coalitionnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
彩虹（rainbow）是天空因陽光照射雨滴而形成的七彩弧形，涵蓋了形狀與色彩兩層特徵。Arc 強調的是形狀上的「弧形」，用於幾何或較技術性的描述中，但不會傳達色彩豐富的意象；例如 The arc of the rainbow faded as the clouds rolled in。Spectrum 則指「色譜」或「顏色範圍」，是一個科學術語，完全不涉及弧形形狀；例如 A prism produced a full spectrum of colours。Bow 是 rainbow 的詩歌縮寫，常見於文學或傳統歌謠中，語氣較古雅；例如 Over the river a bow of light appeared。日常用語中，rainbow 是最自然且涵蓋形狀與色彩兩者的詞彙；若想強調形狀，可選 arc；若專指顏色範圍，應選 spectrum。
Common collocations
Etymology
Rainbow comes from Old English renboga, a compound of regn (rain) and boga (bow, as in a curved arch). The word has been recorded since before the year 1000, originally referring only to the coloured arc across the sky after rain. The figurative sense — something beautiful but impossible to reach — appeared in the 14th century. Modern political uses such as rainbow nation (South Africa, 1990s) and rainbow coalition (United States, 1980s) extend the colour-variety metaphor to human diversity.