SPRAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does spray mean? 

• SPRAY (noun)
  The noun SPRAY has 6 senses:

1. a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying

2. a quantity of small objects flying through the air

3. flower arrangement consisting of a single branch or shoot bearing flowers and foliage

4. a dispenser that turns a liquid (such as perfume) into a fine mist

5. water in small drops in the atmosphere; blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall

6. a jet of vapor

  Familiarity information: SPRAY used as a noun is common.

• SPRAY (verb)
  The verb SPRAY has 3 senses:

1. be discharged in sprays of liquid

2. scatter in a mass or jet of droplets

3. cover by spraying with a liquid

  Familiarity information: SPRAY used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPRAY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("spray" is a kind of...):

pesticide (a chemical used to kill pests (as rodents or insects))

Sense 2

Meaning:

A quantity of small objects flying through the air

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

spray; spraying

Context example:

a spray of bullets

Hypernyms ("spray" is a kind of...):

small indefinite amount; small indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Flower arrangement consisting of a single branch or shoot bearing flowers and foliage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("spray" is a kind of...):

floral arrangement; flower arrangement (a decorative arrangement of flowers)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A dispenser that turns a liquid (such as perfume) into a fine mist

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

atomiser; atomizer; nebuliser; nebulizer; spray; sprayer

Hypernyms ("spray" is a kind of...):

dispenser (a container so designed that the contents can be used in prescribed amounts)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spray"):

airbrush (an atomizer to spray paint by means of compressed air)

Derivation:

spray (scatter in a mass or jet of droplets)

spray (be discharged in sprays of liquid)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Water in small drops in the atmosphere; blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("spray" is a kind of...):

water vapor; water vapour (water in a vaporous form diffused in the atmosphere but below boiling temperature)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spray"):

sea spray (spray from ocean waves)

spindrift; spoondrift (spray blown up from the surface of the sea)

Derivation:

spray (scatter in a mass or jet of droplets)

spray (be discharged in sprays of liquid)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A jet of vapor

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("spray" is a kind of...):

jet; spirt; spurt; squirt (the occurrence of a sudden discharge (as of liquid))

• SPRAY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they spray    ... he / she / it sprays   
Past simple: sprayed   
Past participle: sprayed   
-ing form: spraying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be discharged in sprays of liquid

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

Water sprayed all over the floor

Hypernyms (to "spray" is one way to...):

disperse; dot; dust; scatter; sprinkle (distribute loosely)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

spray (a dispenser that turns a liquid (such as perfume) into a fine mist)

spray (water in small drops in the atmosphere; blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Scatter in a mass or jet of droplets

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

spray paint on the wall

Hypernyms (to "spray" is one way to...):

disperse; dot; dust; scatter; sprinkle (distribute loosely)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spray"):

shower (spray or sprinkle with)

atomise; atomize (spray very finely)

mist (spray finely or cover with mist)

syringe (spray or irrigate (a body part) with a syringe)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

spray (a dispenser that turns a liquid (such as perfume) into a fine mist)

spray (water in small drops in the atmosphere; blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall)

sprayer (a dispenser that turns a liquid (such as perfume) into a fine mist)

spraying (a quantity of small objects flying through the air)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cover by spraying with a liquid

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

spray the wall with paint

Hypernyms (to "spray" is one way to...):

cover (provide with a covering or cause to be covered)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

They spray the bread with melted butter

Derivation:

sprayer (a worker who applies spray to a surface)

spraying (the application of a liquid in the form of small particles ejected from a sprayer)

 Context examples 

A device for giving medicines in the form of a spray that is inhaled (breathed in) through the nose or mouth.

(Inhaler, NCI Dictionary)

A nose spray that contains a small dose of nicotine, which enters the blood by being absorbed through the lining of the nose.

(Nicotine nasal spray, NCI Dictionary)

A spray intended for administration to the mucosa of the nose.

(Nasal Spray Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

A drug that is used in a cream to treat certain skin conditions and in a nasal spray to treat sinus problems caused by allergies.

(Elocon, NCI Dictionary)

Due to its quick onset and short duration of action, the administration of fentanyl nasal spray may relieve breakthrough pain in adults already receiving maintenance opioid therapy for chronic pain.

(Fentanyl Citrate-containing Nasal Spray, NCI Thesaurus)

A spray intended for administration to the mucosa.

(Mucosal Spray Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

By applying this spray paint-like mechanism, this device can be used to cover wounds and provide controlled drug release over time.

(Scientists Develop Spray Gun to Paint Bandages onto Wounds, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

At a minimum, the natural compound could reduce the amount of synthetic chemicals sprayed onto food crops.

(Transferring Sorghum’s Weed-Killing Power to Rice, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Upon direct application using the polysaccharide-containing spray, a protective film of moisture is deposited over the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.

(Herbal Polysaccharide Saliva Substitute, NCI Thesaurus)

A form of the drug fentanyl that is sprayed under the tongue and then absorbed into the blood.

(Fentanyl sublingual spray, NCI Dictionary)