Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Water or other liquid moving in a mass of dispersed droplets, as from a wave.
  • noun A moving mass of particles or projectiles.
  • noun A fine jet of liquid discharged from a pressurized container.
  • noun A pressurized container; an atomizer.
  • noun Any of numerous commercial products, including paints, cosmetics, and insecticides, that are dispensed from containers in this manner.
  • intransitive verb To disperse (a liquid, for example) in a mass or jet of droplets, particles, or small pieces.
  • intransitive verb To apply a spray to (a surface); hit with a spray.
  • intransitive verb To discharge sprays of liquid.
  • intransitive verb To be directed or dispersed in a spray.
  • intransitive verb Zoology To urinate on various objects as a way of marking territory.
  • noun A small branch bearing buds, flowers, or berries.
  • noun Something, such as a decorative motif, that resembles such a branch.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Water flying in small drops or particles, as by the force of wind, or the dashing of waves, or from a waterfall; water or other liquid broken up into small particles and driven (as by an atomizer) along by a current of air or other gas. Winds raise some of the salt with the spray.
  • noun A branch of a tree with its branchlets, especially when slender and graceful; also, twigs, or such branches collectively; a stem of flowers or leaves; a sprig.
  • noun An orchard; a grove.
  • noun A binding-stick for thatching.
  • noun Any ornament, pattern, or design in the form of a branch or sprig: as, a spray of diamonds; an embroidered spray.
  • noun A set of castings fed from a common runner, to which they are still attached by the smaller channels or sprues, and resembling a branch with twigs and leaves.
  • To throw in the form of spray; let fall as spray; scatter in minute drops or particles.
  • To sprinkle with fine drops; dampen by means of spray, as of perfume, or of some adhesive liquid used to preserve drawings and the like.
  • To discharge or scatter a liquid in the form of spray: as, the instrument will either spout or spray.
  • To protect (cultivated plants) from insect enemies and vegetable parasites by covering them with a spray which has a toxic effect, upon the animal or vegetable organisms.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Water flying in small drops or particles, as by the force of wind, or the dashing of waves, or from a waterfall, and the like.
  • noun A jet of fine medicated vapor, used either as an application to a diseased part or to charge the air of a room with a disinfectant or a deodorizer.
  • noun An instrument for applying such a spray; an atomizer.
  • noun (Steam Engine) an injection condenser in which the steam is condensed by a spray of water which mingles with it.
  • noun A small shoot or branch; a twig.
  • noun A collective body of small branches, or cut flowers with long stems.
  • noun A side channel or branch of the runner of a flask, made to distribute the metal in all parts of the mold.
  • noun A group of castings made in the same mold and connected by sprues formed in the runner and its branches.
  • noun (Agric.) a drain made by laying under earth the sprays or small branches of trees, which keep passages open.
  • transitive verb Poetic To let fall in the form of spray.
  • transitive verb To throw spray upon; to treat with a liquid in the form of spray.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A fine, gentle, disperse mist of liquid.
  • noun A small branch of flowers or berries.
  • noun A pressurized container; an atomizer.
  • noun Any of numerous commercial products, including paints, cosmetics, and insecticides, that are dispensed from containers in this manner.
  • verb To project a liquid in a dispersive manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb cover by spraying with a liquid
  • verb be discharged in sprays of liquid
  • noun a jet of vapor
  • noun water in small drops in the atmosphere; blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall
  • noun a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
  • noun a dispenser that turns a liquid (such as perfume) into a fine mist
  • noun a quantity of small objects flying through the air
  • noun flower arrangement consisting of a single branch or shoot bearing flowers and foliage

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From obsolete spray, to sprinkle, from Middle Dutch sprayen.]

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Old English *spræg.]

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Examples

  • Bear pepper spray is a highly concentrated capsaicin spray that creates a large cloud.

    what do I do when I'm being chased by a bear? 2009

  • Bear pepper spray is a highly concentrated capsaicin spray that creates a large cloud.

    what do I do when I'm being chased by a bear? 2009

  • You may see them sit down together, sort of a brief -- what we call a spray, you go in and just take a quick picture and get out.

    CNN Transcript Nov 7, 2008 2008

  • Many products are available in spray-pump, aerosol or twist-off cap containers.

    Safer Alternatives 2010

  • I have found that Raid brand insect spray is very effective at controlling them.

    Dengue A word of caution 2009

  • A few years ago, our school had a parent write a racist remark on his garage in spray paint and called the local paper who published a picture of it and the man's biracial son trying to spin the article as if students and the school were harrasing his son.

    No-Tolerance Policy Extends Off Campus 2009

  • A few years ago, our school had a parent write a racist remark on his garage in spray paint and called the local paper who published a picture of it and the man's biracial son trying to spin the article as if students and the school were harrasing his son.

    No-Tolerance Policy Extends Off Campus 2009

  • Although the influenza shot (either seasonal or H1N1) and not the nasal spray is recommended for pregnant women, there is no danger associated with being around others who have received the nasal vaccine.

    Ask the VEC 2010

  • Things may be going fine when you're suddenly blinded by a passing car, truck or bus that covers your windshield in spray or kicks up gallons from a puddle.

    Dr. Gridlock: Tips for afternoon driving Robert Thomson 2010

  • I have found that Raid brand insect spray is very effective at controlling them.

    Dengue A word of caution 2009

Comments

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  • Nigerian English - giving of monetary gifts to dancers and musicians at a party. The bank notes are usually placed on the foreheads of the recipients.

    September 17, 2008

  • A small branch bearing buds, flowers, or berries.

    February 5, 2009