- spray
- spray1 S3 [spreı] v1.) [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 airspray from▪ Champagne sprayed from the bottle.3.) spray sb/sth with bulletsto shoot a lot of bullets towards a person or place very quickly▪ Gunmen sprayed the crowd with bullets.spray 2spray2 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 dropsspray 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 holly5.) ¦(FLOWERS)¦an attractive arrangement of flowers or leavesspray of▪ a spray of violets and primroses6.) a spray of bullets/gravel etca lot of bullets or very small objects moving quickly through the air
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.