spray

¹spray

noun \ˈsprā\

Definition of SPRAY

1

: a usually flowering branch or shoot

2

: a decorative flat arrangement of flowers and foliage (as on a coffin)

3

: something (as a jeweled pin) resembling a spray

Origin of SPRAY

Middle English, from Old English *spræg, spræc

First Known Use: 13th century

Rhymes with SPRAY

a, ae, bay, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, flay, fley, frae, fray, Frey, gay, Gay, gey, gley, gray, hay, he, hey, Hue, j, jay, Jay, k, kay, Kay, lay, lei, may, nay, né, née, neigh, Ney, pay, pe, play, pray, prey, qua, quai, quay, Rae, ray, re, say, shay, slay, sleigh, spae, spay, Spey, splay, stay, stray, sway, Tay, they, tray, trey, way, weigh, whey, yea

²spray

noun

Definition of SPRAY

1

: water flying in small drops or particles blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall

2

a : a jet of vapor or finely divided liquid <disinfectant sprays>

b : a device (as an atomizer or sprayer) by which a spray is dispersed or applied

c (1) : an application of a spray or by spraying (2) : a substance (as paint) so applied

Origin of SPRAY

obsolete English spray to sprinkle, from Middle Dutch sprayen

First Known Use: 1621

³spray

verb

Definition of SPRAY

transitive verb

1

: to project spray or something resembling spray on or into <spray the table> <spraying the wall with bullets>

2

: to disperse or apply as a spray <sprayed some perfume>

intransitive verb

1

: to break up into spray

2

: to disperse or apply a spray

3

: to emit a stream or spray of urine <a cat may spray to mark its territory>

— spray·er noun

Examples of SPRAY

1. She sprayed herself with perfume.
2. The crops are sprayed monthly.
3. We were sprayed by water from the crashing waves.
4. The boys sprayed graffiti on the wall.
5. He sprayed the paint evenly over the surface.
6. She sprayed some perfume into the air.
7. The soda sprayed from the bottle.
8. The blood sprayed onto the wall.
9. They sprayed the crowd with bullets.

First Known Use of SPRAY

1527

Related to SPRAY

Synonyms

bestrew, dot, pepper, sow, spot, scatter, sprinkle, strew

Related Words

blanket, drizzle, dust; stud; dapple, fleck, speckle, stipple; bespatter, spatter