sprinkling
[spring-kling]
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Origin of sprinkling
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comsprinkle
[spring-kuhl]
- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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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
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com1. 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
scatteringsmatteringsprinklehandfultracestraintastedustingfewtouchmixtureadmixturedusttingelickseveralExamples from the Web for sprinkling
Contemporary Examples
Stephen Colbert dug up the clip and had a laugh, sprinkling on some fun with puns to seal the deal.
A sprinkling of hands went up, maybe 15 to 20 percent of the audience—“and some of them lie,” he exclaimed.
Sprinkling a little personal responsibility sugar on top can't hurt.
Probably because self-identified Republicans include moderates and even a sprinkling of liberals.
Most also are George W. Bush/Dick Cheney/Don Rumsfeld retreads, with a dash of Reaganites and a sprinkling of realists thrown in.
Historical Examples
At present there is but a sprinkling of Protestants in Millau.
The Roof of FranceMatilda Betham-Edwards
But the sprinkling was a swarm in the Twickenham cottage, and filled it.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
A young but severe-looking Socitaire was sprinkling her with drops of water.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
They were there almost over our heads, sprinkling us with their blue, pink, and mauve drops.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
Only a sprinkling of pin-points of light marked Porno to the eye.
The Bluff of the HawkAnthony Gilmore
sprinkling
- a small quantity or amounta sprinkling of commonsense
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sprinkle
- 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
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- the act or an instance of sprinkling or a quantity that is sprinkled
- a slight drizzle
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Word Origin
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
n.
"small amount," 1590s, verbal noun from sprinkle (v.).
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sprinkle
v.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper