Rain vs. Sprinkle — What's the Difference?

Rain is liquid water in the form of droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then become heavy enough to fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth.

To scatter in drops or particles

The condensed moisture of the atmosphere falling visibly in separate drops

To scatter drops or particles on

Rain falls

To intersperse with something as if by scattering

Water condensed from atmospheric vapor and falling in drops.

To distribute or intersperse at random

A fall of such water; a rainstorm.

To scatter something in drops or particles.

The descent of such water.

To fall or rain in small or infrequent drops.

Rainy weather.

The act of sprinkling.

Rains A rainy season.

A light rainfall.

A heavy or abundant fall

A small amount; a sprinkling.

To fall in drops of water from the clouds.

Sprinkles Small particles of candy sprinkled on ice cream as a topping.

To fall like rain

(transitive) To cause (a substance) to fall in fine drops (for a liquid substance) or small pieces (for a solid substance).

To release rain.

(transitive) To cover (an object) by sprinkling a substance on to it.

To send or pour down.

(intransitive) To drip in fine drops, sometimes sporadically.

To give abundantly; shower

(intransitive) To rain very lightly outside.

Condensed water falling from a cloud.

(transitive) To baptize by the application of a few drops, or a small quantity, of water; hence, to cleanse; to purify.

(figuratively) Any matter moving or falling, usually through air, and especially if liquid or otherwise figuratively identifiable with raindrops.

A light covering with a sprinkled substance.

(figuratively) An instance of particles or larger pieces of matter moving or falling through air.

A light rain shower.

(impersonal) To have rain fall from the sky.

An aspersorium or utensil for sprinkling.

(intransitive) To fall as or like rain.

A small hard piece of sugar and starch, or chocolate, used to decorate cakes etc.

(transitive) To issue (something) in large quantities.

To scatter in small drops or particles, as water, seed, etc.

Reign.

To scatter on; to disperse something over in small drops or particles; to besprinkle; as, to sprinkle the earth with water; to sprinkle a floor with sand.

Water falling in drops from the clouds; the descent of water from the clouds in drops.

To baptize by the application of a few drops, or a small quantity, of water; hence, to cleanse; to purify.

To fall in drops from the clouds, as water; - used mostly with it for a nominative; as, it rains.

To scatter a liquid, or any fine substance, so that it may fall in particles.

To fall or drop like water from the clouds; as, tears rained from their eyes.

To rain moderately, or with scattered drops falling now and then; as, it sprinkles.

To pour or shower down from above, like rain from the clouds.

To fly or be scattered in small drops or particles.

To bestow in a profuse or abundant manner; as, to rain favors upon a person.

A small quantity scattered, or sparsely distributed; a sprinkling.

Water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

A utensil for sprinkling; a sprinkler.

Drops of fresh water that fall as precipitation from clouds

A light shower that falls in some locations and not others nearby

Anything happening rapidly or in quick successive;

The act of sprinkling or splashing water;

Precipitate as rain;

Distribute loosely;

Cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force;

Rain gently;

Scatter with liquid; wet lightly;