Rainbow — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈrān-ˌbō/ rain·bow

Meaning & Definition of Rainbow

Rainbow (noun)

  1. an arc or circle that exhibits in concentric bands the colors of the spectrum and that is formed opposite the sun by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays in raindrops, spray, or mist
  2. a multicolored array
  3. a wide assortment or range

Rainbow (adjective)

  1. having many colors
  2. of, relating to, or being people of different races or cultural backgrounds

Rainbow (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a wide range or assortment

    "The ice cream shop offers a rainbow of flavors."

    similar: agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage, crazy quilt, farrago, gallimaufry, grab bag, gumbo, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jambalaya, jumble, jungle, litter, macédoine, medley, mélange, menagerie, miscellanea, miscellany, mishmash, mixed bag, montage, motley, muddle, olio, olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, pastiche, patchwork, patchwork quilt, potpourri, ragbag, ragout, rummage, salad, salmagundi, scramble, shuffle, smorgasbord, stew, tumble, variety, welter, mosaic, tapestry, detritus, notions, oddments, odds and ends, sundries, accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomerate, conglomeration, catchall, admixture, alloy, amalgam, blend, combination, commixture, composite, compound, fusion, intermixture, mix-up, bollix, chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, dog's breakfast (chiefly British), mess, morass, shambles, imbroglio, knot, snarl, tangle

Rainbow (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. marked by a variety of usually vivid colors

    "the rainbow costumes worn by mummers at Mardi Gras"

    similar: chromatic, colored, colorful, kaleidoscopic, motley, multicolored, multihued, polychromatic, polychrome, prismatic, varicolored, varied, variegated, various
    related: iridescent, opalescent, brave, bright, brilliant, gay, vibrant, flashy, garish, gaudy, loud, showy, splashy, checkered, dotted, patterned, plaid, plaided, striped, dappled, marbled, mottled, parti-color, piebald, pied, pinto, flecked, specked, speckled, spotted, banded, barred, brindled, streaked, striated, bichrome, bicolored, dichromatic, trichromatic, tricolor, two-tone, two-toned
    opposite: colorless, monochromatic, monochromic, monotone, self-colored, solid
    near: achromatic, bleached, decolorized, faded, washed-out, dull, faint, gray, neutral, pale, pallid, unbrilliant

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Rainbow

The most common words with a similar meaning to Rainbow:

Chiefly British: dog's breakfast
agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage, crazy quilt, farrago, gallimaufry, grab bag, gumbo, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jambalaya, jumble, jungle, litter, macédoine, medley, mélange, menagerie, miscellanea, miscellany, mishmash, mixed bag, montage, motley, muddle, olio, olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, pastiche, patchwork, patchwork quilt, potpourri, ragbag, ragout, rummage

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Rainbow

Words with the opposite meaning of Rainbow:

colorless, monochromatic, monochromic, monotone, self-colored, solid

Related Words for Rainbow

iridescent, opalescent, brave, bright, brilliant, gay, vibrant, flashy, garish, gaudy, loud, showy, splashy, checkered, dotted, patterned, plaid, plaided, striped, dappled, marbled, mottled, parti-color, piebald, pied, pinto, flecked, specked, speckled, spotted

Near Antonyms of Rainbow

achromatic, bleached, decolorized, faded, washed-out, dull, faint, gray, neutral, pale, pallid, unbrilliant

Word Forms of Rainbow

Derived words: rainbowlike (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Rainbow

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Rainbow

rainbow fish, rainbow runner, rainbow trout

Frequently Asked Questions about Rainbow

What does "Rainbow" mean?

"Rainbow" means an arc or circle that exhibits in concentric bands the colors of the spectrum and that is formed opposite the sun by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays in raindrops, spray, or mist. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: an arc or circle that exhibits in concentric bands the colors of the spectrum and that is formed opposite the sun by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays in raindrops, spray, or mist. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Rainbow"?

Other words for "Rainbow" include agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage and crazy quilt. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Rainbow" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Rainbow"?

There are 142 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Rainbow". Common alternatives include agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage, crazy quilt, farrago and gallimaufry.

What is the opposite of "Rainbow"?

Antonyms of "Rainbow" include colorless, monochromatic, monochromic, monotone, self-colored and solid. Near antonyms include achromatic, bleached, decolorized and faded.

How do you use "Rainbow" in a sentence?

Examples of "Rainbow" in a sentence: "The ice cream shop offers a rainbow of flavors."; "the rainbow costumes worn by mummers at Mardi Gras".

Is "Rainbow" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Rainbow" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Rainbow"?

"Rainbow" is pronounced /ˈrān-ˌbō/ and divided into syllables as rain·bow.

What is the origin of the word "Rainbow"?

First known use: before 12th century.