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Sprays

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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)
6. to scatter in the form of fine particles.
7. to apply as a spray: to spray an insecticide on plants.
8. to sprinkle or treat with a spray: to spray plants with insecticide.
9. to direct a spray of particles, missiles, etc., upon: to spray the mob with tear gas.
–verb (used without object)
10. to scatter spray; discharge a spray: The hose sprayed over the flowers.
11. to issue as spray: The water sprayed from the hose.

Origin:
1615–25; < earlier D spraeyen; c. MHG spræjen


spray⋅a⋅ble, adjective
spray⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
sprayer, noun
sprayless, adjective
spraylike, adjective

spray

2[sprey]
–noun
1. a single, slender shoot, twig, or branch with its leaves, flowers, or berries.
2. a group or bunch of cut flowers, leafy twigs, etc., arranged decoratively and for display, as in a vase.
3. an ornament having a similar form.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME; akin to sprag 1


spraylike, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Sprays
spray 1   (sprā)   
n.  
  1. Water or other liquid moving in a mass of dispersed droplets, as from a wave.

    1. A fine jet of liquid discharged from a pressurized container.

    2. A pressurized container; an atomizer.

    3. Any of numerous commercial products, including paints, cosmetics, and insecticides, that are dispensed from containers in this manner.

v.   sprayed, spray·ing, sprays

v.   tr.
  1. To disperse (a liquid) in a mass or jet of droplets.

  2. To apply a spray to (a surface).

v.   intr.
  1. To discharge sprays of liquid.

  2. To move in the form of a spray.


[From obsolete spray, to sprinkle, from Middle Dutch sprayen.]
spray'er n.
spray 2   (sprā)   
n.  
  1. A small branch bearing buds, flowers, or berries.

  2. Something, such as a decorative motif, that resembles such a branch.


[Middle English, from Old English *spræg.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

spray  (v.)
"sprinkle liquid in drops," 1527, from M.Du. sprayen, from P.Gmc. *spræwjanan (cf. Ger. sprühen "to sparkle, drizzle," Spreu "chaff," lit. "that which flies about"), from PIE base *sper- "to sow, scatter" (see sprout). The noun is attested from 1621. Spray-painting is from 1902; spray-paint (v.) is from 1928.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: spray
Function: transitive verb
: to disperse among a number of recipients spray trust income —W. M. McGovern, Junior et al.>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2spray
Function: intransitive verb
: to emit a stream or spray of urine spray to mark its territory>
Medical Dictionary

spray (sprā)
n.
A fine jet of liquid discharged from a pressurized container. v. sprayed, spray·ing, sprays
To disperse a liquid in a jet of droplets.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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