spray
1 Americannoun
-
water or other liquid broken up into minute droplets and blown, ejected into, or falling through the air.
-
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.
-
a liquid to be discharged or applied in such a jet.
-
an apparatus or device for discharging such a liquid.
-
a quantity of small objects, flying or discharged through the air.
a spray of shattered glass.
verb (used with object)
-
to scatter in the form of fine particles.
-
to apply as a spray.
to spray an insecticide on plants.
-
to sprinkle or treat with a spray.
to spray plants with insecticide.
-
to direct a spray of particles, missiles, etc., upon.
to spray the mob with tear gas.
verb (used without object)
-
to scatter spray; discharge a spray.
The hose sprayed over the flowers.
-
to issue as spray.
The water sprayed from the hose.
noun
-
a single, slender shoot, twig, or branch with its leaves, flowers, or berries.
-
a group or bunch of cut flowers, leafy twigs, etc., arranged decoratively and for display, as in a vase.
-
an ornament having a similar form.
noun
-
fine particles of a liquid
-
-
a liquid, such as perfume, paint, etc, designed to be discharged from an aerosol or atomizer
hair spray
-
the aerosol or atomizer itself
-
-
a quantity of small objects flying through the air
a spray of bullets
verb
-
to scatter (liquid) in the form of fine particles
-
to discharge (a liquid) from an aerosol or atomizer
-
(tr) to treat or bombard with a spray
to spray the lawn
noun
-
a single slender shoot, twig, or branch that bears buds, leaves, flowers, or berries, either growing on or detached from a plant
-
a small decorative bouquet or corsage of flowers and foliage
-
a piece of jewellery designed to resemble a spray of flowers, leaves, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
sprayabilitynoun
-
sprayernoun
-
sprayableadjective
-
spraylessadjective
-
spraylikeadjective
-
unsprayableadjective
-
unsprayedadjective
-
well-sprayedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
spraysimple
-
sprayssimple
-
have sprayedperfect
-
has sprayedperfect
-
am sprayingprogressive
-
are sprayingprogressive
-
is sprayingprogressive
-
have been sprayingperfect progressive
-
has been sprayingperfect progressive
Past
-
sprayedsimple
-
had sprayedperfect
-
was sprayingprogressive
-
were sprayingprogressive
-
had been sprayingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
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. )
Explanation
A spray is a jet of small drops of water or liquid vapor. It describes the medicine you use to make your nose less dry or the air freshener you use to make your bathroom less smelly. Though spray has had several incarnations, it is helpful to remember the German root sprühen — “to sparkle” or “to drizzle.” Spray has more than one sense, and can be a verb or a noun: If a whale were to spray you with water, you would be covered in spray. The word can also describe a group of small objects or pieces sent in the air, as in the spray of broken glass caused by your foul ball hitting a window.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With temperatures well over 35 degrees expected over the next few days in Tehran, tankers were stationed to spray water on the roads to cool down the participants.
From Barron's • Jul. 3, 2026
Contractors at the massive Lineage warehouse on Thursday had already placed fans and misters around the burned remains of the building, which had its walls torn down so firefighters could spray water into the structure.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026
Uniformed marksmen spray the mob with cold water.
From Slate • Jun. 24, 2026
"The system waits precisely long enough for that layer of water droplets to freeze solid based on current wind and humidity, then fires the spray again," explains Balasubramanian.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
A magnificent spray of white carnations, red roses, lavender, and baby’s breath blanketed the length of Great-great-aunt Florentine’s closed casket.
From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
