spray

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a usually flowering branch or shoot
2
: a decorative flat arrangement of flowers and foliage (as on a coffin)
3
: something (such as a jeweled pin) resembling a spray

spray

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
: water flying in small drops or particles blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall
2
a
: a jet of vapor or finely divided liquid
disinfectant sprays
b
: a device (such as an atomizer or sprayer) by which a spray is dispersed or applied
c(1)
: an application of a spray or by spraying
(2)
: a substance (such as paint) so applied

spray

3 of 3

verb

sprayed; spraying; sprays

transitive verb

1
: to project spray or something resembling spray on or into
spray the table
spraying the wall with bullets
2
: to disperse or apply as a spray
sprayed some perfume

intransitive verb

1
: to break up into spray
2
: to disperse or apply a spray
3
: to emit a stream or spray of urine
a cat may spray to mark its territory
sprayer noun

Examples of spray in a Sentence

Verb She sprayed herself with perfume. The crops are sprayed monthly. We were sprayed by water from the crashing waves. The boys sprayed graffiti on the wall. He sprayed the paint evenly over the surface. She sprayed some perfume into the air. The soda sprayed from the bottle. The blood sprayed onto the wall. They sprayed the crowd with bullets.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The spray is applied to brush and trees in canyons and open spaces and around homeless encampments and evacuation corridors. Tyler Faurot, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025 Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Do not follow large vehicles closely - Large vehicles like trucks or buses can create a spray of water that can reduce your visibility. Ca Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
So, if the water pressure suddenly drops off and the sprinklers no longer spray as far as usual, this is a sign that there might be a blockage in the system. Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025 The blaze is seemingly just outside of a building, and firefighters' hoses can be seen spraying the plane to put out the fire. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spray

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English *spræg, spræc

Noun (2)

obsolete English spray to sprinkle, from Middle Dutch sprayen

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1621, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1527, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spray was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spray. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

spray

1 of 3 noun
: a usually flowering branch or shoot

spray

2 of 3 noun
1
: liquid flying in fine drops like water blown from a wave
2
a
: a burst of fine mist (as from an atomizer)
b
: a device (as an atomizer) for scattering a spray

spray

3 of 3 verb
1
: to scatter or apply as a spray
2
: to scatter spray on or into
sprayer noun

Medical Definition

spray

1 of 2 noun
: a jet of vapor or finely divided liquid
specifically : a jet of fine medicated vapor used as an application to a diseased part or to charge the air of a room with a disinfectant or deodorant

spray

2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to emit a stream or spray of urine
a cat may spray to mark its territory

Legal Definition

spray

transitive verb
: to disperse among a number of recipients
authorized to spray trust incomeW. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.

More from Merriam-Webster on spray

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!