- spray
- [[t]spre͟ɪ[/t]]
♦♦♦sprays, spraying, sprayed1) N-VAR: oft N from/of n 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...
The rope whipped clear of the water, throwing up a spray of droplets.
2) N-MASS 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.
3) V-ERG If you spray a liquid somewhere or if it sprays somewhere, drops of the liquid cover a place or shower someone.[V n prep/adv] A sprayer hooked to a tractor can spray five gallons onto ten acres...
[V n with n] Two inmates hurled slates at prison officers spraying them with a hose...
[V prep] Drops of blood sprayed across the room.
4) V-ERG If a lot of small things spray somewhere or if something sprays them, they are scattered somewhere with a lot of force.[V prep] A shower of mustard seeds sprayed into the air and fell into the grass...
[V n prep] The intensity of the blaze shattered windows, spraying glass on the streets below...
[V n with n] The bullet slammed into the ceiling, spraying them with bits of plaster.
5) VERB If someone sprays bullets somewhere, they fire a lot of bullets at a group of people or things.[V n prep/adv] He ran to the top of the building spraying bullets into shoppers below...
[V n with n] The army lorries were sprayed with machinegun fire from guerrillas in the woods. [Also V n]
6) VERB: usu passive If something is sprayed, it is painted using paint kept under pressure in a container.7) VERB When someone sprays against insects, they cover plants or crops with a chemical which prevents insects feeding on them.[V against n] He doesn't spray against pests or diseases...
[V n] Confine the use of insecticides to the evening and do not spray plants that are in flower...
Because of the immunity of the immature insects, it's important to spray regularly. [Also V n prep]
8) N-COUNT A spray is a piece of equipment for spraying water or another liquid, especially over growing plants.Syn:9) N-COUNT: N of n A spray of flowers or leaves is a number of flowers or leaves on one stem or branch....a small spray of freesias.
English dictionary. 2008.
