SPRAY definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary (2025)

Spray is a lot of small drops of water which are being thrown into the air.

The moon was casting a rainbow through the spray from the waterfall. [+ from/of]

The rope whipped clear of the water, throwing up a spray of droplets.

A spray is a liquid kept under pressure in a can or other container, which you can force out in very small drops.

...hair spray.

...a can of insect spray.

If you spray a liquid somewhere or if it sprays somewhere, drops of the liquid cover a place or shower someone.

Two inmates hurled slates at prison officers spraying them with a hose. [VERB noun + with]

If a lot of small things spray somewhere or if something sprays them, they are scattered somewhere with a lot of force.

A shower of mustard seeds sprayed into the air and fell into the grass. [VERB preposition]

The intensity of the blaze shattered windows, spraying glass on the streets below. [VERB noun preposition]

The bullet slammed into the ceiling, spraying them with bits of plaster. [VERB noun + with]

If someone sprays bullets somewhere, they fire a lot of bullets at a group of people or things.

The army lorries were sprayed with machine gun fire from guerrillas in the woods. [be VERB-ed + with]

[Also VERB noun]

If something is sprayed, it is painted using paint kept under pressure in a container.

Confine the use of insecticides to the evening and do not spray plants that are in flower. [VERB noun]

Because of the immunity of the immature insects, it's important to spray regularly. [VERB]

[Also VERB noun preposition]

A spray is a piece of equipment for spraying water or another liquid, especially over growing plants.

A spray of flowers or leaves is a number of flowers or leaves on one stem or branch.

...a small spray of freesias. [+ of]

1.

2.

3.

a spray of bullets

4.

to scatter (liquid) in the form of fine particles

5.

to discharge (a liquid) from an aerosol or atomizer

6.(transitive)

to spray the lawn

1.

2.

3.

a piece of jewellery designed to resemble a spray of flowers, leaves, etc

1.

2.

3.

something likened to a spray of liquid particles

a spray of gunfire

4.

to direct a spray on; treat with a spray

5.

to direct a spray of on some surface, etc.

6.

to shoot out a spray

7.

to be shot out as a spray

1.

a small branch or sprig of a tree or plant, with leaves, berries, flowers, etc.

2.

1.

2.

a jet of fine particles of liquid, as medicine, insecticide, paint, perfume, etc., discharged from an atomizer or other device for direct application to a surface

3.

a liquid to be discharged or applied in such a jet

4.

an apparatus or device for discharging such a liquid

5.

a quantity of small objects, flying or discharged through the air

a spray of shattered glass

6.

to scatter in the form of fine particles

7.

to apply as a spray

to spray an insecticide on plants

8.

to sprinkle or treat with a spray

to spray plants with insecticide

9.

to direct a spray of particles, missiles, etc., upon

to spray the mob with tear gas

10.

to scatter spray; discharge a spray

The hose sprayed over the flowers

11.

The water sprayed from the hose

1.

a single, slender shoot, twig, or branch with its leaves, flowers, or berries

2.

3.

an ornament having a similar form

(Pharmaceutical: Administration)

A spray is a liquid kept under pressure in a can or other container, which you can force out in very small drops.