spray

noun

UK /spreɪ/

Word Forms

singular	spray
plural	sprays

1
countable/uncountable a liquid product in a container that you use by pushing a button so that the liquid is forced out through a small hole into the air
Don’t forget to pack the insect spray.
a spray bottle/can
Synonyms and related words
Amounts of liquid in a container
barrel
bath
bottle
2
singular/uncountable many small drops of water that are forced into the air together, for example from the sea
The cold spray from the rocks below stung her face.
The dog shook himself sending a spray of water into the air.
Synonyms and related words
General words for amounts of liquid
river
pool
drop
3
countable a small branch with flowers or berries on it, used for decoration
fresh sprays of evergreen
Synonyms and related words
General words for flowers and bunches of flowers
bloom
bouquet
bunch

spray

noun

US /spreɪ/

Word Forms

singular	spray
plural	sprays

1
countable/uncountable a liquid product in a container that you use by pushing a button so that the liquid is forced out through a small hole into the air
Don’t forget to pack the bug spray.
a spray bottle/can
Synonyms and related words
Amounts of liquid in a container
barrel
bath
bottle
2
singular/uncountable many small drops of water that are forced into the air together, for example from the ocean
The cold spray from the rocks below stung her face.
The dog shook himself sending a spray of water into the air.
Synonyms and related words
General words for amounts of liquid
splash
sip
drop
3
countable a small branch with flowers or berries on it, used for decoration
fresh sprays of evergreen
Synonyms and related words
General words for flowers and bunches of flowers
bloom
bouquet
boutonniere

spray

verb

UK /spreɪ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	spray
he/she/it	sprays
present participle	spraying
past tense	sprayed
past participle	sprayed

1
intransitive/transitive if you spray a liquid, or if it sprays, it is forced out of a container through a small hole into the air
The fountain’s cool water sprayed upwards with a pleasant hiss.
Mansell stood on the podium and sprayed champagne into the air.
spray someone/something with something:
I caught the kids next door spraying my dog with cold water!
spray something on/onto/over something:
The chemical is sprayed onto the roof to weatherproof it.
Synonyms and related words
What liquids can do
break
burst
cast up
1. 1a
  to cover crops or a large area of land with a chemical spray in order to kill insects or to prevent diseases
  Health officials have sprayed the areas where the virus was active.
  Farmers have to apply for permits to spray from the air.
  spray for:
  They’re spraying for mosquitoes this weekend.
  Synonyms and related words
  Crop farming
  arable
  broadacre
  cash crop
2. 1b
  Britishto paint a car by spraying paint on it
  Synonyms and related words
  To paint and decorate
  paint
  decorate
  paper
2
transitive to shoot a large number of bullets at something, covering a wide area
spray someone/something with something:
The men sprayed the vehicle with automatic gunfire.
Synonyms and related words
To shoot someone or something
shoot
blast
spray
3
intransitive/transitive if a cat sprays a particular area, it urinates in many places around the area to show other cats that it lives there
Synonyms and related words
Animal behaviour
beach
bite
bite

spray

verb

US /spreɪ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	spray
he/she/it	sprays
present participle	spraying
past tense	sprayed
past participle	sprayed

1
intransitive/transitive if you spray a liquid, or if it sprays, it is forced out of a container through a small hole into the air
The fountain’s cool water sprayed upward with a pleasant hiss.
Mansell stood on the podium and sprayed champagne into the air.
spray someone/something with something:
I caught the kids next door spraying my dog with cold water!
spray something on/onto/over something:
The chemical is sprayed onto the roof to weatherproof it.
Synonyms and related words
What liquids can do
break
burst
cast up
1. 1a
  to cover crops or a large area of land with a chemical spray in order to kill insects or to prevent diseases
  Health officials have sprayed the areas where the virus was active.
  Farmers have to apply for permits to spray from the air.
  spray for:
  They’re spraying for mosquitoes this weekend.
  Synonyms and related words
  Crop farming
  arable
  cash crop
  combine
2
transitive to shoot a large number of bullets at something, covering a wide area
spray someone/something with something:
The men sprayed the vehicle with automatic gunfire.
Synonyms and related words
To shoot someone or something
shoot
blast
spray
3
intransitive/transitive if a cat sprays a particular area, it urinates in many places around the area to show other cats that it lives there
Synonyms and related words
Animal behavior
beach
bite
bite

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