spray Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
noun a quantity of small objects flying through the air
spraying.
- a spray of bullets
noun flower arrangement consisting of a single branch or shoot bearing flowers and foliage
noun a dispenser that turns a liquid (such as perfume) into a fine mist
nebuliser; atomizer; sprayer; atomiser; nebulizer.
noun water in small drops in the atmosphere; blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall
noun a jet of vapor
verb be discharged in sprays of liquid
- Water sprayed all over the floor
verb scatter in a mass or jet of droplets
- spray water on someone
- spray paint on the wall
verb cover by spraying with a liquid
- spray the wall with paint

Cf. Dan. sprag. See Sprig.

A small shoot or branch; a twig. Chaucer.
The painted birds, companions of the spring, Hopping from spray, were heard to sing. Dryden.
A collective body of small branches; as, the tree has a beautiful spray.
And from the trees did lop the needless spray. Spenser.
(Founding) (a) A side channel or branch of the runner of a flask, made to distribute the metal in all parts of the mold. (b) A group of castings made in the same mold and connected by sprues formed in the runner and its branches. Knight.

probably from a Dutch or Low German form akin to E. spread. See Spread, v. t.

Water flying in small drops or particles, as by the force of wind, or the dashing of waves, or from a waterfall, and the like.
(Med.) (a) A jet of fine medicated vapor, used either as an application to a diseased part or to charge the air of a room with a disinfectant or a deodorizer. (b) An instrument for applying such a spray; an atomizer.

To let fall in the form of spray. Poetic M. Arnold.
To throw spray upon; to treat with a liquid in the form of spray; as, to spray a wound, or a surgical instrument, with carbolic acid.