noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

spray

Spray (noun) means a fine mist of liquid released into the air. Example: “Sea spray drifted over the harbour wall.”

noun

A fine mist of liquid released into the air.

"Sea spray drifted over the harbour wall."

"She felt the spray from the waterfall on her face."

A liquid product sold in a container designed to release it as a mist.

"He grabbed a can of insect spray from under the sink."

A small decorative bunch of flowers or foliage.

"A spray of white lilies sat on the coffin."

verb

To scatter a liquid across something in fine drops.

"She sprayed the plants with water every morning."

How to Use Spray

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA fine mist of liquid, a product that dispenses one, or the act of scattering liquid in fine drops.

Common pairings

hair spray spray paint a spray of flowers

Word Forms

sprayed past tense, sprays plural, sprays plural, sprays singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Sea _____ drifted over the harbour wall.

Etymology

From Middle Dutch sprayen ("to spray, sprinkle, spread"), ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root meaning to sprinkle.

Origin: Proto-Germanic

Synonyms

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mist aerosol atomizer sprinkle shower drizzle

Related Words

rain cloud shower steam handful fog spit splash

Rhymes for spray

ay may day say ray hay lay pay jay way yay nay

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “spray” mean?

The word “spray” means a fine mist of liquid released into the air. In plain terms, a fine mist of liquid, a product that dispenses one, or the act of scattering liquid in fine drops.

How do you pronounce “spray”?

“Spray” is pronounced spray (/spɹeɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “spray” in a sentence?

Here is “spray” used in a sentence: “Sea spray drifted over the harbour wall.”

What part of speech is “spray”?

Depending on how it is used, “spray” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “spray” come from?

The word “spray” comes from Proto-Germanic. From Middle Dutch sprayen ("to spray, sprinkle, spread"), ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root meaning to sprinkle.

Is “spray” a common word?

“Spray” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “spray” have?

“Spray” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fine mist of liquid released into the air.

What is the difference between "spray" and "mist"?

A "spray" is a jet of fine liquid droplets released into the air, often forced from a nozzle. A "mist" is a cloud of very fine droplets that drifts or hangs more gently, so sprays are usually directed while mist tends to settle softly.

What is the difference between "spray" and "aerosol"?

A "spray" is the fine mist of liquid itself, or a product designed to release it. An "aerosol" strictly means fine particles suspended in gas, and in everyday use a pressurised can, so a spray can also come from a simple pump bottle.

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