spray

¹ American  

[sprey] / spreɪ /

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.

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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 American  

[sprey] / spreɪ /

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.

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spray ¹ British  

/ 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

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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 British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• sprayability noun
• sprayable adjective
• sprayer noun
• sprayless adjective
• spraylike adjective
• unsprayable adjective
• unsprayed adjective
• well-sprayed adjective

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. )

Example Sentences

It was amazing they both weren’t devoured by pixies, but then I saw a dozen servants surrounding them, swatting the pixies away with big paddles or spraying them with dirt.

From Literature

The vaccine is given intranasally -- such as through a nasal spray -- and provides wide ranging protection in the lungs that lasts for months.

From Science Daily

Axe body spray is well aware of its reputation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Last April, he sprayed the world with levies as high as 125%.

From The Wall Street Journal

A single nasal spray vaccine could protect against all coughs, colds and flus, as well as bacterial lung infections, and may even ease allergies, say US researchers.

From BBC

Related Words

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