From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsprayspray1 /spreɪ/ ●●● S3 verb 1 [transitive]LIQUID to force liquid out of a container so that it comes out in a stream of very small drops and covers an area → squirtspray somebody/something with something She sprayed herself with perfume.spray something on/onto/over something Someone had sprayed blue paint over his car. Vandals had sprayed graffiti on the walls.spray crops/plants etc (=cover them with liquid to protect them from insects or disease) The fruit is sprayed every four weeks.2 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]SPREAD if liquids or small bits spray somewhere, they are quickly scattered through the airspray from Champagne sprayed from the bottle.3 → spray somebody/something with bullets→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
spray• We sprayed a few rounds their way and they made even more noise going back.• You want to add more magazines to the assault weapons so they can spray and kill even more people.• He shook his head, spraying drops over the room, over his clothes discarded on the floor.• Best filed a complaint saying the officers sprayed him with Mace, urinated near his car and flattened his tires.• I like to spray it around.• Lime sprayed on to the surrounding hillsides neutralized the acidity, but risked disrupting wetland ecology.• Saute remaining 2 cloves garlic in skillet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray until tender, about 1 minute.spray somebody/something with something• She was cleaning the porch by spraying it with water.sprayspray2 ●●● S3 noun 1 liquid from a container [countable, uncountable]LIQUID liquid which is forced out of a special container in a stream of very small drops a new hair styling spray Most farmers use pesticide sprays.2 container [countable]TD a container which forces liquid out in a stream of small drops Mary took a perfume spray from her handbag.3 moving liquid a) [uncountable]HEO water in very small drops that is blown from the sea etc or sent up by vehicles on a wet road spray from the waves My face was stinging from the salt spray. b) [countable] liquid that comes quickly from somewhere in very small dropsspray of A spray of blood came from his mouth.4 branch [countable]HBP a small branch or stem with leaves or flowers on it, used for decoration SYN sprigspray of a spray of holly5 flowers [countable]DCB an attractive arrangement of flowers or leavesspray of a spray of violets and primroses6 → a spray of bullets/gravel etcExamples from the Corpus
spray• Granules, seed treatment, bait sprays or selective placement may be better than an overall spray.• The Second Battle of Niagara Our dreams exceeding by thy bounteous spray.• Approximately ten minutes after the fourth spray, the bread should turn a light golden color.• The example shown here is not a traditional botanical picture, but more a natural spray or group.• These days, everyone wishes to avoid wasting money on sprays that may not be cost effective.• Pepper spray has been linked to the deaths of 39 people in California and 80 people across the country.• Use pump sprays instead of aerosol sprays.• It sort of humped up in the middle, sucking water with it, shrugging sprays of water from its wavy edges!• During the storm, spray from the waves reached houses half a mile inland.spray of• a spray of irisesOrigin spray2 1. (1500-1600) Perhaps from Middle Dutch sprayen “to scatter small drops of liquid”2. (1200-1300) Perhaps from an unrecorded Old English spræg 