Core sense — rain; herbage that grows from rain; cloudsgenerated
1.1
Rain; or rain that covers the width of a بَرِيد [i.e. six miles, or twelve miles]; or rain that produces much good, [supposed to belong to art. غوث, for it is added,] because people are helped by it. So explained in the “Sharḥ esh-Shifè”.
Plural أَغْيَاثٌ [a plural of paucity] and غُيُوثٌ.
[Hence a figurative usage in a saying mentioned under ثَجَّاجٌ.]
1.2figurative · مجاز — inferredthe bee, or bees collectively—ذُبَابُ غَيْثٍ
[Or ذُبَابُ الغَيْثِ, literally the fly of rain, or the fly of the rain.] So called because the bee seeks after herbage and flowers, which come after the rain.
1.3figurative · مجازherbage which grows by means of the water of the sky—غَيْثٌ
Called so by the name of its cause.
1.4figurative · مجاز
Clouds. [See an example under فَرُوقَةٌ.]
Qur’ānic occurrences غَيْث
31:34
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌۢ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۢVerily the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah (alone). It is He Who sends down rain, and He Who knows what is in the wombs. Nor does any one know what it is that he will earn on the morrow: Nor does any one know in what land he is to die. Verily with Allah is full knowledge and He is acquainted (with all things).
42:28
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُوا۟ وَيَنشُرُ رَحْمَتَهُۥ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْوَلِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُHe is the One that sends down rain (even) after (men) have given up all hope, and scatters His Mercy (far and wide). And He is the Protector, Worthy of all Praise.
57:20
ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَـٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَـٰمًا ۖ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ ۚ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِKnow ye (all), that the life of this world is but play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting and multiplying, (in rivalry) among yourselves, riches and children. Here is a similitude: How rain and the growth which it brings forth, delight (the hearts of) the tillers; soon it withers; thou wilt see it grow yellow; then it becomes dry and crumbles away. But in the Hereafter is a Penalty severe (for the devotees of wrong). And Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the devotees of Allah). And what is the life of this world, but goods and chattels of deception?
Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.
Show Lane's original text
inf. n. of غَاثَ [q. v.]. (S, O, Msb.) And [a subst.] signifying Rain: (S, A, O, Msb, K:) or rain that occupies the space of a بَرِيد [i. e. six miles, or twelve miles,] in width: (AA, O, K:) or rain that is productive of much good; [supposed to belong to art. غوث , for it is added,] because mankind are aided thereby; thus expl. in the “ Sharh esh-Shifè: ” pl. أَغْيَاثٌ [a pl. of pauc.] and غُيُوثٌ . (TA.) [Hence a tropical usage in a saying mentioned voce ثَجَّاجٌ .] And [hence] ذُبَابُ غَيْثٍ [or ذُبَابُ الغَيْثِ (see ذُبَابٌ ) lit. The fly of rain or the fly of the rain] signifies the bee, or bees collectively: so called because the bee seeks after herbage and flowers, which are consequent upon the rain: (IAth, TA:) [for] غَيْثٌ signifies also Herbage (Lth, S, A, O, Msb, K) which grows by means of the water of the sky: (Lth, A, O, K:) called thus by the name of its cause. (Msb.) And Clouds. (S, O, TA.) [See an ex. voce فَرُوقَةٌ .]