spray

1
[ sprey ]
See synonyms for spray on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. a liquid to be discharged or applied in such a jet.

  2. an apparatus or device for discharging such a liquid.

  3. a quantity of small objects, flying or discharged through the air: a spray of shattered glass.

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.

  1. to sprinkle or treat with a spray: to spray plants with insecticide.

  2. 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.

Origin of spray

1
First recorded in 1520–30; from earlier Dutch spraeyen; cognate with Middle High German spræjen

Other words from spray

  • spray·a·ble, adjective
  • spray·a·bil·i·ty, noun
  • sprayer, noun
  • sprayless, adjective
  • spraylike, adjective
  • un·spray·a·ble, adjective
  • un·sprayed, adjective
  • well-sprayed, adjective

Other definitions for spray (2 of 2)

spray2
[ 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.

  1. an ornament having a similar form.

Origin of spray

2
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sprai(e); of uncertain origin; perhaps akin to sprag1 or sprig

Other words for spray

Other words from spray

  • spraylike, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use spray in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spray (1 of 2)

spray1

/ (spreɪ) /


noun
  1. 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

  1. a quantity of small objects flying through the air: a spray of bullets

verb
  1. to scatter (liquid) in the form of fine particles

  2. to discharge (a liquid) from an aerosol or atomizer

  1. (tr) to treat or bombard with a spray: to spray the lawn

Origin of spray

1
C17: from Middle Dutch sprāien; related to Middle High German spræjen

Derived forms of spray

  • sprayer, noun

British Dictionary definitions for spray (2 of 2)

spray2

/ (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

  1. a piece of jewellery designed to resemble a spray of flowers, leaves, etc

Origin of spray

2
C13: of Germanic origin; compare Old English sprǣc young shoot, Old Norse sprek brittle wood, Old High German sprahhula splinter

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