sprinkling

[spring-kling]

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noun

a small quantity or number scattered here and there.
a small quantity sprinkled or to be sprinkled.

Origin of sprinkling

First recorded in 1400–50, sprinkling is from the late Middle English word sprenclyng. See sprinkle, -ing¹

Related formssprin·kling·ly, adverb

Synonyms for sprinkling

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1, 2. sprinkle, touch, dash, hint.

sprinkle

[spring-kuhl]

verb (used with object), sprin·kled, sprin·kling.

to scatter (a liquid, powder, etc.) in drops or particles: She sprinkled powder on the baby.
to disperse or distribute here and there.
to overspread with drops or particles of water, powder, or the like: to sprinkle a lawn.
to diversify or intersperse with objects scattered here and there.

verb (used without object), sprin·kled, sprin·kling.

to scatter or disperse liquid, a powder, etc., in drops or particles.
to be sprinkled.
to rain slightly (often used impersonally with it as subject): It may sprinkle this evening.

noun

the act or an instance of sprinkling.
something used for sprinkling.
Usually sprinkles. small particles of chocolate, candy, sugar, etc., used as a decorative topping for cookies, cakes, ice-cream cones, and the like.
a light rain.
a small quantity or number.

Origin of sprinkle

1350–1400; Middle English sprenklen (v.); cognate with Dutch sprenkelen, German sprenkeln; akin to Old English sprengan to sprinkle, make (something) spring, scatter, causative of springan to spring

Related formsin·ter·sprin·kle, verb (used with object), in·ter·sprin·kled, in·ter·sprin·kling.pre·sprin·kle, verb (used with object), pre·sprin·kled, pre·sprin·kling.re·sprin·kle, verb, re·sprin·kled, re·sprin·kling.un·sprin·kled, adjective

Synonyms for sprinkle

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1. distribute, rain. Sprinkle, scatter, strew mean to fling, spread, or disperse. To sprinkle means to fling about small drops or particles: to sprinkle water on clothes, powder on plants. To scatter is to disperse or spread widely: to scatter seeds. To strew is to scatter, especially in such a way as to cover or partially cover a surface: to strew flowers on a grave.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for sprinkling

scattering, smattering, sprinkle, handful, trace, strain, taste, dusting, few, touch, mixture, admixture, dust, tinge, lick, several

Examples from the Web for sprinkling

Contemporary Examples of sprinkling

Stephen Colbert dug up the clip and had a laugh, sprinkling on some fun with puns to seal the deal.
Dumpster Politicians, Jeter Tributes, and More Viral Videos
Jack Holmes
September 21, 2014
A sprinkling of hands went up, maybe 15 to 20 percent of the audience—“and some of them lie,” he exclaimed.
The Key to Being a Leader During Crisis? Break the Rules
Eleanor Clift
October 10, 2013
Sprinkling a little personal responsibility sugar on top can't hurt.
Remember the Party of Personal Responsibility?
Michael Tomasky
July 11, 2012
Probably because self-identified Republicans include moderates and even a sprinkling of liberals.
'Independents' are Not Moderates
David Frum
January 11, 2012
Most also are George W. Bush/Dick Cheney/Don Rumsfeld retreads, with a dash of Reaganites and a sprinkling of realists thrown in.
The Republican Party Is Losing Its Grip on Foreign Policy
Leslie H. Gelb
November 28, 2011

Historical Examples of sprinkling

At present there is but a sprinkling of Protestants in Millau.
The Roof of France
Matilda Betham-Edwards
But the sprinkling was a swarm in the Twickenham cottage, and filled it.
Little Dorrit
Charles Dickens
A young but severe-looking Socitaire was sprinkling her with drops of water.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
They were there almost over our heads, sprinkling us with their blue, pink, and mauve drops.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
Only a sprinkling of pin-points of light marked Porno to the eye.
The Bluff of the Hawk
Anthony Gilmore

British Dictionary definitions for sprinkling

sprinkling

noun

a small quantity or amounta sprinkling of commonsense

sprinkle

verb

to scatter (liquid, powder, etc) in tiny particles or droplets over (something)
(tr) to distribute over (something)the field was sprinkled with flowers
(intr) to drizzle slightly

noun

the act or an instance of sprinkling or a quantity that is sprinkled
a slight drizzle

Word Origin for sprinkle

C14: probably from Middle Dutch sprenkelen; related to Old English spearca spark 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for sprinkling

"small amount," 1590s, verbal noun from sprinkle (v.).

sprinkle

late 14c. (implied in sprinkled), frequentative of sprenge (see spring (v.)) or via Middle Dutch, Middle Low German sprenkel "spot, speck," from PIE root *(s)preg- "to jerk, scatter" (cf. Latin spargere "to scatter, sprinkle"). The meaning "rain lightly" is first recorded 1778. Related: Sprinkling.