spray

spray¹ S3 [spreı] v

1.) [T]

to force liquid out of a container so that it comes out in a stream of very small drops and covers an area

→↑squirt spray sb/sth with sth

▪ She sprayed herself with perfume.

spray sth on/onto/over sth

▪ Someone had sprayed blue paint over his car.

▪ Vandals had sprayed graffiti on the walls.

spray crops/plants etc

(=cover them with liquid to protect them from insects or disease)

▪ The fruit is sprayed every four weeks.

2.) [I always + adverb/preposition]

if liquids or small bits spray somewhere, they are quickly scattered through the air

spray from

▪ Champagne sprayed from the bottle.

3.) spray sb/sth with bullets

to shoot a lot of bullets towards a person or place very quickly

▪ Gunmen sprayed the crowd with bullets.

spray ²

spray² n

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

1¦(liquid from a container)¦

2¦(container)¦

3¦(moving liquid)¦

4¦(branch)¦

5¦(flowers)¦

6 a spray of bullets/gravel etc

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

[Sense: 1-3, 6; Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Perhaps from Middle Dutch sprayen 'to scatter small drops of liquid']

[Sense: 4-5; Date: 1200-1300; Origin: Perhaps from an unrecorded Old English sprAg]

1.) ¦(LIQUID FROM A CONTAINER)¦ [U and C]

liquid which is forced out of a special container in a stream of very small drops

▪ a new hair styling spray

▪ Most farmers use pesticide sprays.

2.) ¦(CONTAINER)¦

a container which forces liquid out in a stream of small drops

▪ Mary took a perfume spray from her handbag.

3.) ¦(MOVING LIQUID)¦

a) [U]

water in very small drops that is blown from the sea etc or sent up by vehicles on a wet road

▪ spray from the waves

▪ My face was stinging from the salt spray.

b)

liquid that comes quickly from somewhere in very small drops

spray of

▪ A spray of blood came from his mouth.

4.) ¦(BRANCH)¦

a small branch or stem with leaves or flowers on it, used for decoration

= ↑sprig spray of

▪ a spray of holly

5.) ¦(FLOWERS)¦

an attractive arrangement of flowers or leaves

spray of

▪ a spray of violets and primroses

6.) a spray of bullets/gravel etc

a lot of bullets or very small objects moving quickly through the air