pluie

Rain, or pluie in French, is liquid precipitation consisting of water droplets that fall from clouds when atmospheric conditions allow droplets to grow and no longer be suspended. It is a key component of the Earth's hydrological cycle, linking atmospheric moisture with surface water, soils, and ecosystems. In meteorology, pluie is the general term for rainfall; more specific terms describe rainfall intensity, duration, and origin.

Rain forms when moist air rises and cools, causing water vapor to condense into cloud droplets. Droplets grow by collision and coalescence or by the ice-crystal process in mixed-phase clouds, then fall once they reach sufficient size. Types of rainfall reflect mechanisms: convective rain from strong surface heating; frontal rain from the interaction of air masses; and orographic rain produced by moist air rising over terrain. Intensity ranges from drizzle to heavy downpour.

Rain is measured with rain gauges that collect precipitation and report it as millimeters of water depth over a given time. Global rainfall shows great regional variation: tropical regions often receive several thousand millimeters annually, while deserts may receive less than 100 mm. Seasonal patterns, monsoons, and climate oscillations influence when and how much rain falls, with implications for agriculture, water resources, and flood risk management.

Rain supports agriculture and replenishes freshwater but can also trigger floods, soil erosion, and infrastructure damage when intense or poorly managed. Atmospheric pollutants can affect rain chemistry, including the historical issue of acid rain. In culture, pluie appears as a common motif in literature and art, reflecting renewal, temperance, or meteorological phenomena across French-speaking regions.