Definitions

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

  • intransitive verb To propel or scatter (a fluid) about in flying masses.
  • intransitive verb To scatter fluid onto (a surface) in flying masses; wet, stain, or soil with flying fluid.
  • intransitive verb To cause (something) to scatter fluid in flying masses.
  • intransitive verb To make (one's way) with or by the scattering of fluid.
  • intransitive verb To apply patches or spots of a contrasting, usually bright, color to.
  • intransitive verb To display or publicize very noticeably.
  • intransitive verb To cause a fluid to scatter in flying masses.
  • intransitive verb To fall into or move through fluid with this effect.
  • intransitive verb To move, spill, or fly about in scattered masses.
  • intransitive verb To produce a sound or sight associated with this effect.
  • noun The act or sound of splashing.
  • noun A flying mass of fluid.
  • noun A small amount, especially of a fluid.
  • noun A marking produced by or as if by scattered fluid.
  • noun A great though often short-lived impression; a stir.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In lumbering, to drive (logs) by releasing a head of water confined by a splash-dam.
  • To spatter or bespatter, as with water, water and mud, or any other liquid.
  • To dash or throw about in splotches: as, to splash dirty water on one.
  • To accomplish with splashing or plashing.
  • To ornament with splashed decoration.
  • To dabble or spatter about in water or other liquid; dash or spatter water about.
  • To fall with or make a plashing sound.
  • noun A bird-fanciers' name for an elongate spot of color.
  • noun A dash; a show; display.
  • Dashing; ostentatious; extravagant.
  • noun Water or other liquid thrown upon anything.
  • noun A noise or effect as from water or mud thrown up or dashed about.
  • noun A spot of dirt or other discoloring or disfiguring matter; a blot; a daub.
  • noun A spot or plash of color strongly differing from the surrounding color, as on the hide of a horse, cow, or other animal.
  • noun A complexion-powder, generally the finest rice-flour, used by women to whiten their necks and faces.
  • noun A shad-wash.

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

  • intransitive verb To strike and dash about water, mud, etc.; to dash in such a way as to spatter.
  • noun Water, or water and dirt, thrown upon anything, or thrown from a puddle or the like; also, a spot or daub, as of matter which wets or disfigures.
  • noun A noise made by striking upon or in a liquid.
  • transitive verb To strike and dash about, as water, mud, etc.; to plash.
  • transitive verb To spatter water, mud, etc., upon; to wet.

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

  • noun onomatopoeia The sound made by an object hitting a liquid.
  • noun A small amount of liquid
  • noun A small amount (of color)
  • noun A mark or stain made from a small amount a liquid
  • noun An impact or impression.
  • verb To hit or agitate liquid so that part of it separates from the principal liquid mass.
  • verb To disperse a fluid suddenly; to splatter.
  • verb transitive to hit or expel liquid at
  • verb To create an impact or impression; to print, post or publicize prominently.
  • verb transitive To spend (money)

Etymologies

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

[Probably alteration of plash.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

(onomatopoeia), possibly influenced by plash. Connected with splosh and splish by vowel apophony (sound change); compare with Indo-European ablaut as in sing/sang/sung/song.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word splash.

Examples

  • Then, while he was still listening to the unfamiliar echo of his own voice, he heard just behind him a _splash, splash, splash_, and his left arm jerked itself spasmodically from beneath his breast, the hand simultaneously touching a substance that was hard, cold, and slimy.

    Adventures in Many Lands Various

  • The alarm was taken by half a dozen more, and by the time the two boys were afoot and had seized their weapons -- _splash, splash, splash_!

    Cormorant Crag A Tale of the Smuggling Days George Manville Fenn 1870

  • _Splash, splash, splash_, and then the dog's progress seemed to be checked, as the boys followed into a pool of water which filled all the tunnel to the sides.

    Sappers and Miners The Flood beneath the Sea George Manville Fenn 1870

  • "I also have an anti-glare screen I can attach to my LCD monitor, which I call my splash guard," admitted Jenny.

    The Toque 2009

  • "I also have an anti-glare screen I can attach to my LCD monitor, which I call my splash guard," admitted Jenny.

    The Toque 2009

  • "I also have an anti-glare screen I can attach to my LCD monitor, which I call my splash guard," admitted Jenny.

    The Toque 2009

  • To that, I say: Even a form "splash" is better than no "splash" at all.

    Denny Dressman: The Decline of Common Courtesy Denny Dressman 2010

  • To that, I say: Even a form "splash" is better than no "splash" at all.

    Denny Dressman: The Decline of Common Courtesy Denny Dressman 2010

  • To that, I say: Even a form "splash" is better than no "splash" at all.

    Denny Dressman: The Decline of Common Courtesy Denny Dressman 2010

  • To that, I say: Even a form "splash" is better than no "splash" at all.

    Denny Dressman: The Decline of Common Courtesy Denny Dressman 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • A type of overo, splash paints have white heads, blue eyes, and white markings on their legs and underbellies. Their backs are usually solid in color.

    November 14, 2022