spray
pronunciation
How to pronounce spray in British English:
UK [spreɪ]
How to pronounce spray in American English:
US [spreɪ]
-
- Noun:
- a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
- a dispenser that turns a liquid (such as perfume) into a fine spray
- a quantity of small objects flying through the air
- flower arrangement consisting of a single branch or shoot bearing flowers and foliage
- water in small drops in the atmosphere; blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall
- a jet of vapor
-
- Verb:
- be discharged in sprays of liquid
- scatter in a mass or jet of droplets
- cover by spraying with a liquid
Word Origin
- spray (v.)
- "sprinkle liquid in drops," 1520s, from Middle Dutch sprayen, from Proto-Germanic *sprewjan (cognates: German sprühen "to sparkle, drizzle," Spreu "chaff," literally "that which flies about"), from extended form of PIE root *sper- (4) "to sow, scatter" (see sprout (v.)). Related: Sprayed; spraying.
- spray (n.1)
- "small branch," mid-13c., of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to Old English spræc "shoot, twig" (see sprig), and compare Danish sprag in same sense.
- spray (n.2)
- "water blown by waves," 1620s, from spray (v.).
Example
- 1. Use saline nasal spray as directed throughout the day .
- 2. Carefully lift the rack and coat with cooking spray .
- 3. So she hired the mosquito squad to spray her yard .
- 4. Some systems automatically alert the police when spray is released .
- 5. They say it could offer huge power and environmental benefits over current high-performance spray technologies .