shower

The word "shower" has several common meanings, and they mostly share the idea of water or many small things coming down at once. The meaning most people know best is the act of washing your body under a spray of water. It can also mean the bathroom fixture or space where you wash: "She took a quick shower before heading out," or "The shower is in the corner of the bathroom."

"Shower" also means a short fall of rain, usually light and not very long. You might hear, "A brief shower passed over the town," and then see the sun come back out a little later. This sense is old and still very common in weather reports and daily conversation.

From that image of many drops coming down, the word also developed figurative uses. To shower someone with praise, love, gifts, or attention means to give a lot of it. For example, "The crowd showered the performer with applause." In the same spirit, a baby shower or bridal shower is a party where people gather to celebrate someone and give gifts before an important life event.

In most cases, "shower" suggests either a spray of water, a brief spell of rain, or a large amount of something being given or falling all at once. The exact meaning becomes clear from the situation, but the feeling of drops, spray, or abundance stays the same.