spray

¹

[ sprey ]

noun

1. water or other liquid broken up into minute droplets and blown, ejected into, or falling through the air.
2. a jet of fine particles of liquid, as medicine, insecticide, paint, perfume, etc., discharged from an atomizer or other device for direct application to a surface.
3. a liquid to be discharged or applied in such a jet.
4. an apparatus or device for discharging such a liquid.
5. a quantity of small objects, flying or discharged through the air:

   a spray of shattered glass.

verb (used with object)

1. to scatter in the form of fine particles.
2. to apply as a spray:

   to spray an insecticide on plants.

3. to sprinkle or treat with a spray:

   to spray plants with insecticide.

4. to direct a spray of particles, missiles, etc., upon:

   to spray the mob with tear gas.

verb (used without object)

1. to scatter spray; discharge a spray:

   The hose sprayed over the flowers.

2. to issue as spray:

   The water sprayed from the hose.

spray

²

[ sprey ]

noun

1. a single, slender shoot, twig, or branch with its leaves, flowers, or berries.

   Synonyms: twig, sprig, shoot, branch

2. a group or bunch of cut flowers, leafy twigs, etc., arranged decoratively and for display, as in a vase.

   Synonyms: sprig, posy, nosegay, corsage, bouquet

3. an ornament having a similar form.

spray

¹

/ spreɪ /

noun

1. fine particles of a liquid
2. 1. a liquid, such as perfume, paint, etc, designed to be discharged from an aerosol or atomizer

      hair spray

   2. the aerosol or atomizer itself
3. a quantity of small objects flying through the air

   a spray of bullets

verb

1. to scatter (liquid) in the form of fine particles
2. to discharge (a liquid) from an aerosol or atomizer
3. tr to treat or bombard with a spray

   to spray the lawn

spray

²

/ spreɪ /

noun

1. a single slender shoot, twig, or branch that bears buds, leaves, flowers, or berries, either growing on or detached from a plant
2. a small decorative bouquet or corsage of flowers and foliage
3. a piece of jewellery designed to resemble a spray of flowers, leaves, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈsprayer, noun

Other Words From

• spraya·ble adjective
• spraya·bili·ty noun
• sprayer noun
• sprayless adjective
• spraylike adjective
• un·spraya·ble adjective
• un·sprayed adjective
• well-sprayed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spray¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from earlier Dutch spraeyen; cognate with Middle High German spræjen

Origin of spray²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sprai(e); of uncertain origin; perhaps akin to sprag ¹ or sprig ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of spray¹

C17: from Middle Dutch sprāien; related to Middle High German spræjen

Origin of spray²

C13: of Germanic origin; compare Old English sprǣc young shoot, Old Norse sprek brittle wood, Old High German sprahhula splinter

Example Sentences

We have sprinkled our favorite 20 throughout this article, both from that list and from the body of popular lore that has arisen around the miracle spray.

From Popular-Science

If you ever run out of Got2B glued spray, don’t ever ever use this unless you want your hair to be like that forever.

From Washington Post

Also, as with any spray paint, you need to set up a workspace where overspray won’t be a problem.

From Washington Post

Nothing says adventure quite like a gear list that calls for bear spray.

From Washington Post

This can make the difference between having a successful crop or not, without resorting to sprays.

From Washington Post

He would shake a chilled Coke, and then spray the soda into a cold glass of milk.

From The Daily Beast

Neither Mr. Gelb nor the unions claimed responsibility for the spray painted vulgarities, and the case remains unsolved.

From The Daily Beast

Although some groups, through the thick fog of tear gas, pepper spray and smoke that hung over the city, still lingered.

From The Daily Beast

He was captivated by footage of her escape through the hazy entryway of the supermarket, which was obscured by pepper spray.

From The Daily Beast

The compressions sent the nurses scrambling for face masks and yellow gowns to protect themselves from the red spray.

From The Daily Beast

While you were admiring the long roll of the wave, a sudden spray would be dashed over you, and make you catch your breath!

From Project Gutenberg

When patients are very nervous, it is well to spray the throat with cocain solution.

From Project Gutenberg

Here, being suddenly drenched by spray from one of the engines, Sam and Tommy made for the shelter of a chimney-stack.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not an easy matter to sit up in a gale of wind, with freezing spray, and sometimes green seas, sweeping over one!

From Project Gutenberg

Then the heavens lower, so that the clouds course along the earth, and rain and spray drift far inland.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• drizzle
• dust
• scatter
• shoot
• shower
• smear
• splash
• squirt