Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense sprays, present participle spraying, past tense, past participle sprayed
1. variable noun
Spray is a lot of small drops of water which are being thrown into the air.
The moon was casting a rainbow through the spray from the waterfall. [+ from/of]
The rope whipped clear of the water, throwing up a spray of droplets.
Synonyms: droplets, moisture, fine mist, drizzle More Synonyms of spray
2. variable noun
A spray is a liquid kept under pressure in a can or other container, which you can force out in very small drops.
...hair spray.
...a can of insect spray.
3. verb
If you spray a liquid somewhere or if it sprays somewhere, drops of the liquid cover a place or shower someone.
A sprayer hooked to a tractor can spray five gallons onto ten acres. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Two inmates hurled slates at prison officers spraying them with a hose. [VERB noun + with]
Drops of blood sprayed across the room. [VERB preposition]
4. verb
If a lot of small things spray somewhere or if something sprays them, they are scattered somewhere with a lot of force.
A shower of mustard seeds sprayed into the air and fell into the grass. [VERB preposition]
The intensity of the blaze shattered windows, spraying glass on the streets below. [VERB noun preposition]
The bullet slammed into the ceiling, spraying them with bits of plaster. [VERB noun + with]
Synonyms: scatter, shower, sprinkle, diffuse More Synonyms of spray
5. verb
If someone sprays bullets somewhere, they fire a lot of bullets at a group of people or things.
He ran to the top of the building spraying bullets into shoppers below. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
The army lorries were sprayed with machine gun fire from guerrillas in the woods. [beVERB-ed + with]
[Also VERB noun]
6. verb [usually passive]
If something is sprayed, it is painted using paint kept under pressure in a container.
The bare metal was sprayed with several coats of primer. [beVERB-ed + with]
7. verb
When someone sprays against insects, they cover plants or crops with a chemical which prevents insects feeding on them.
He doesn't spray against pests or diseases. [VERB + against]
Confine the use of insecticides to the evening and do not spray plants that are inflower. [VERB noun]
Because of the immunity of the immature insects, it's important to spray regularly. [VERB]
[Also VERB noun preposition]
8. countable noun
A spray is a piece of equipment for spraying water or another liquid, especially over growing plants.
9. countable noun
A spray of flowers or leaves is a number of flowers or leaves on one stem or branch.
...a small spray of freesias. [+ of]
Synonyms: sprig, buttonhole, floral arrangement, branch More Synonyms of spray
More Synonyms of spray
spray in British English1
(spreɪ)
noun
1.
fine particles of a liquid
2.
a.
a liquid, such as perfume, paint, etc, designed to be discharged from an aerosol or atomizer
hair spray
b.
the aerosol or atomizer itself
3.
a quantity of small objects flying through the air
a spray of bullets
verb
4.
to scatter (liquid) in the form of fine particles
5.
to discharge (a liquid) from an aerosol or atomizer
6. (transitive)
to treat or bombard with a spray
to spray the lawn
Derived forms
sprayer (ˈsprayer)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Middle Dutch sprāien; related to Middle High German spræjen
spray in British English2
(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
Word origin
C13: of Germanic origin; compare Old English sprǣc young shoot, Old Norse sprek brittle wood, Old High German sprahhula splinter
spray in American English1
(spreɪ)
noun
1.
a cloud or mist of fine liquid particles, as of water from breaking waves
2.
a.
a jet of fine liquid particles, or mist, as from an atomizer or spray gun
b.
a device for shooting out such a jet
c.
any liquid for spraying from such a device
3.
something likened to a spray of liquid particles
a spray of gunfire
verb transitive
4.
to direct a spray on; treat with a spray
5.
to direct a spray of on some surface, etc.
verb intransitive
6.
to shoot out a spray
7.
to be shot out as a spray
Derived forms
sprayer (ˈsprayer)
noun
Word origin
< or akin to MDu spraeien, to spray, akin to Ger sprühen: see spread
spray in American English2
(spreɪ)
noun
1.
a small branch or sprig of a tree or plant, with leaves, berries, flowers, etc.
2.
a design or ornament like this
Word origin
ME: for IE base see spark1
spray in the Pharmaceutical Industry
(spreɪ)
Word forms: (regular plural) sprays
noun
(Pharmaceutical: Administration)
A spray is a liquid kept under pressure in a can or other container, which you can forceout in very small drops.
Press the top of the can to release a very fine spray.
Medicine is released from an aerosol in the form of a spray.
A spray is a liquid kept under pressure in a can or other container, which you can forceout in very small drops.
nasal spray
Examples of 'spray' in a sentence
spray
They may be sprayed with chemicals to preserve their colour and quality during storage and transportation.
Lashford, Stephanie The Residue Report - an action plan for safer food (1988)
The ground was covered with sprays of flowers.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Those who suffer all summer should try a steroid nasal spray.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Use the spray to define the muscles you already have.
The Sun (2010)
The wind filled the air with spray.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Spray on dry hair to give it some life.
The Sun (2013)
Does he use an insect spray or keep any under the kitchen sink?
Randolph, Theron G. & Moss, Ralph W. (contributor) An Alternative Approach to Allergies (1990)
Close the lid and use the garden hose to spray over the boot.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This one has sprays of dusky pink flowers with frilly edges.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is sold as a powder which is made up and used just like a chemical spray.
Stickland, Sue Planning the Organic Herb Garden (1986)
You can also wear sprays to protect yourself.
The Sun (2013)
At lunch the nuns had spread white tablecloths and set out vases of autumn flowers and sprays of greenery.
John Cornwell Seminary Boy (2006)
We serve either sprayed with vinegar with a cup of sea urchin dip or with ice cream dressed in syrup.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
With no legal pesticide for killing them, experts use liquid garlic sprays or chilli powder.
The Sun (2014)
Apparently with parties and spray tans to think about, that little detail escaped her tiny mind.
The Sun (2007)
But the really powerful scent is released when rain hits the dry ground and kicks up clouds of spores in a fine spray.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In the afternoon, we spray it with liquid fertiliser.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Preheat a frying pan on a medium heat and add either a spray of low-fat cooking oil or small amount of butter.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
spray
British English: spray /spreɪ/ NOUN
Spray consists of a lot of small drops of water which are being splashed or forced into the air.
...the spray from the waterfall.
American English: spray
Arabic: رَشَّاش
Brazilian Portuguese: borrifo
Chinese: 喷雾
Croatian: sprej
Czech: drobné kapičky
Danish: spray
Dutch: spray
European Spanish: pulverizador
Finnish: suihke
French: vaporisateur
German: Spray
Greek: σπρέι
Italian: spruzzo
Japanese: 噴霧
Korean: 분무
Norwegian: spray
Polish: mgiełka
European Portuguese: borrifo
Romanian: strop
Russian: мелкие брызги
Latin American Spanish: pulverizador
Swedish: sprej
Thai: ละอองน้ำ
Turkish: serpinti
Ukrainian: спрей
Vietnamese: bụi nước
British English: spray /spreɪ/ VERB
If you spray drops of a liquid or small pieces of something somewhere, or if they spray somewhere, they cover a place or shower someone.
He sprayed aftershave on his cheeks.
American English: spray
Arabic: يَرُشُّ
Brazilian Portuguese: pulverizar
Chinese: 喷雾
Croatian: sprejati
Czech: stříkat
Danish: sprøjte
Dutch: spuiten
European Spanish: pulverizar
Finnish: ruiskuttaa
French: vaporiser
German: sprühen
Greek: ψεκάζω
Italian: spruzzare
Japanese: 噴霧する
Korean: 분무하다
Norwegian: spraye
Polish: rozpryskać
European Portuguese: pulverizar
Romanian: a pulveriza
Russian: распылять
Latin American Spanish: pulverizar
Swedish: spreja
Thai: พ่น
Turkish: püskürtmek
Ukrainian: розпилювати
Vietnamese: phun bụi nước
All related terms of 'spray'
air spray
a colloidal dispersion of solid or liquid particles in a gas; smoke or fog
spray can
A spray can is a small metal container containing liquid such as paint under pressure so that it can be sprayed.
spray gun
A spray gun is a piece of equipment which you use to spray paint under pressure onto a surface .
spray-on
applied by means of an aerosol spray
spray tan
If you have a tan , your skin has become darker than usual because you have been in the sun.
hair spray
a liquid sprayed from a spray can onto the hair , to hold it in place
hand-spray
an attachment to a shower , sink unit, etc, that is not fixed in place but can instead be moved in order to aid washing
nasal spray
A nasal spray is a substance dispensed as a fine spray from a container into the nostril .
paint spray
paint bought in a special can which you spray on a surface by pressing a button on the top of the can
scent spray
perfume that comes in an aerosol bottle
spray paint
Spray paint is paint bought in a special can which you spray on a surface by pressing a button on the top of the can.
aerosol spray
a substance contained as an aerosol in a spray can
insect spray
a substance which can be sprayed in the home to kill insects
pepper spray
Pepper spray is a device that causes tears and sickness and is sometimes used against rioters and attackers.
vanishing spray
a substance that disperses without trace shortly after it is sprayed onto a surface, used in football to mark a temporary line behind which defenders must stand when a free kick is taken
pepper gas
a defence spray agent derived from hot cayenne peppers , which causes temporary blindness and breathing difficulty , sometimes used to control riots