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)

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

[ sprey ]

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.

spray

¹

/ 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

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

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈsprayer, noun

Other Words From

• spraya·ble adjective
• spraya·bili·ty noun
• sprayer noun
• sprayless adjective
• spraylike adjective
• un·spraya·ble adjective
• un·sprayed adjective
• well-sprayed adjective

Word History and Origins

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of spray¹

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

Origin of spray²

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

Example Sentences

Bailey lets her displeasure be known by having a friend shave off her beautiful spray of kinky hair.

From Los Angeles Times

A recent urban jungle collection, which popped up over a series of days across London, saw its elephant defaced with stripes, wolf appear to be stolen within hours, cat taken down, and a tag spray painted over the rhino.

From BBC

They used a water hose from a nearby home to spray down the brush.

From Los Angeles Times

There’s the China-based textile company NTX, which has developed a heatless dye process that can cut down water use by 90% and dye by 40%, according to their website, and the Swedish start-up Imogo, which also uses a “digital spray application” with similar environmental benefits.

From BBC

A gang of about 15 youths, according to his mum, arrived and punched him to the ground, stamped on him, stabbed him in the back of his head, and attempted to set him alight using a lighter and a deodorant spray.

From BBC

Related Words

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