drain

verb (REDUCE)

/dreɪn/

Definition

C2 [I or T] to reduce or cause something to reduce: The long war had drained the resources of both countries. War drains a nation of its youth and its wealth (= uses them until they are gone).Becoming and making smaller or lessBecoming and making less strong › [I] If the blood/colour drains from someone's face, or if their face drains (of blood/colour), they turn very pale, often because they are shocked or ill: The colour drained from his face/cheeks when they told him the results.The skin, and skin colour

(Definition of drain verb (REDUCE) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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