spray

spray — noun

1. tiny droplets of water or other liquid that float or drift through the air, like

1.nounB1
Definition

tiny droplets of water or other liquid that float or drift through the air, like those blown from ocean waves or rising from a waterfall

Example

Noor stood near the cliffs and felt the cold salt spray on her face.

natural phenomenon: salt spray from the sea

The crashing waves sent spray high into the air above the beach.

Common collocations
  • sea spray
  • ocean spray
  • salt spray
  • spray from the waves
  • spray off the waterfall
Synonyms
  • mist

    suggests a finer, more uniform cloud of droplets, often from weather rather than waves

  • foam

    refers to the white bubbly part of a wave, not airborne droplets

Usage Note

Unlike sense 2, this refers to naturally occurring drops in the air, not liquid from a container.

Common Mistakes

The sea spray was coming from the spray can.
The sea spray was coming from the crashing waves.
'sea spray' is a natural phenomenon, not a product from a container.

2. a liquid released from a pressurized can or bottle as a fine mist of tiny drops,

2.nounB2
Definition

a liquid released from a pressurized can or bottle as a fine mist of tiny drops, activated by pressing the nozzle, used for things such as paint, perfume, insect repellent, or medical treatments

Example

Mizuki used a dry shampoo spray to freshen her hair before the meeting.

collocation: hair spray / dry shampoo spray

James bought a can of red spray paint to fix the scratched metal frame.

collocation: spray paint

Common collocations
  • spray paint
  • hair spray
  • bug spray
  • pepper spray
  • nasal spray
  • a can of spray
Synonyms
  • aerosol

    more technical; refers specifically to the pressurized container system itself

  • mist

    can describe the output but is not a countable product; you buy a 'spray', not a 'mist'

Grammar Patterns

a spray of [liquid]

spray [noun] (e.g. spray paint, hair spray)

Usage Note

Often used as a compound modifier before another noun: spray paint, hair spray, pepper spray, bug spray.

Common Mistakes

I bought a spray can of paint.
I bought a can of spray paint.
The compound 'spray paint' is the standard term for paint that comes out of an aerosol can.

3. a chemical liquid that is sent onto plants or crops in very small drops to prote

3.nounB2
Definition

a chemical liquid that is sent onto plants or crops in very small drops to protect them from insects or disease

Example

The farmer put on a mask before applying the crop spray to the wheat field.

collocation: crop spray

Rodrigo bought a new garden spray to treat the roses for aphids.

Common collocations
  • crop spray
  • garden spray
  • apply a spray
  • spray for weeds
  • spray for insects
Synonyms
  • pesticide

    specific to killing pests; spray is broader and can include fungicides or fertilizers

  • herbicide

    targets weeds specifically, not all plant treatments

Usage Note

As a countable noun, 'spray' can refer to either the chemical liquid or the device itself. Context tells you which: 'He bought a new spray for the roses' could mean either the chemical or the applicator.

Common Mistakes

The farmer spray killed the bugs.
The farmer's spray killed the bugs.
Add possessive or restructure: 'The spray the farmer used killed the bugs.'

4. a short stem or twig that carries both its foliage and blossoms, typically cut f

4.nounB1
Definition

a short stem or twig that carries both its foliage and blossoms, typically cut for display in a vase or as part of a bouquet

Example

Dario placed a spray of lavender on the dining table for a fresh scent.

pattern: a spray of [flower type]

The florist arranged a beautiful spray of white orchids for the wedding.

Common collocations
  • a spray of flowers
  • a spray of orchids
  • a spray of lilies
  • floral spray
  • spray of foliage
Synonyms
  • sprig

    usually smaller and without flowers; a sprig of herbs vs a spray of orchids

  • stem

    a stem is the main stalk; a spray includes the leaves and flowers attached to it

Grammar Patterns

a spray of [flowers/foliage]

5. an object or bottle that forces a liquid out in a fine mist, such as a pump-acti

5.nounB2
Definition

an object or bottle that forces a liquid out in a fine mist, such as a pump-action bottle or an aerosol can

Example

Eitan filled the spray bottle with water and a drop of soap for cleaning.

collocation: spray bottle

The artist used an airbrush spray to create a smooth finish on the model.

Common collocations
  • pump spray
  • trigger spray
  • use a spray
  • spray bottle
  • spray nozzle
Synonyms
  • sprayer

    more explicitly names the device; a garden sprayer, a paint sprayer

  • atomizer

    a specific type that produces a very fine mist, often for perfume

  • nozzle

    only the tip of the device, not the whole container

Usage Note

This sense overlaps closely with sense 2, but focuses on the physical device itself rather than the liquid product inside it. A 'spray' (device) can be used with different liquids.

Common Mistakes

I need a spray for water the plants.
I need a spray for watering the plants.
Use the gerund 'watering' after 'for'.

spray — verb

Word family

  • sprayer
    nounB2
  • spraying
    nounB2
  • spray-on
    adjectiveB2
  • spray-free
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Spray, sprinkle, splash, and scatter all involve spreading something, but they differ in how the substance moves. Spray forces a liquid out in a fine mist under pressure — you spray perfume or spray paint on a wall. Sprinkle lets small drops or particles fall loosely by gravity or light tossing — you sprinkle salt on food or sprinkle seeds in a garden. Splash involves larger, noisier amounts of liquid that hit a surface with some force — you splash water on your face or splash through a puddle. Scatter is the broadest of the four and works for solids and liquids alike, meaning to throw or spread things in different directions without precision — you scatter birdseed on the lawn or scatter papers across a desk. In everyday speech, you might sprinkle water with your fingers but spray it from a bottle, and you would splash someone in a pool but never spray them with a hose if you want a gentler action.

spray ↗sprinkle ↗splash ↗scatter ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • spray can
  • spray bottle
  • spray paint
  • spray nozzle
  • spray gun
  • spray tan

Prepositions

Etymology

Middle DutchEnglish

Spray entered English in the early 1600s, likely from the Middle Dutch word 'spra(e)ien' meaning 'to sprinkle or scatter water'. The noun sense for a small flowering branch comes from a different root — the Old English 'sprǣġ' meaning a twig or shoot — which later merged with the liquid sense in modern English, though the two meanings remain distinct.