Spray is a mass of tiny liquid droplets scattered through the air. When you spray water from a hose or spray bottle, you're breaking the water into thousands of small drops that fly through the air and land on whatever you're aiming at. Ocean waves crashing against rocks send up clouds of salty spray. A sneeze creates an unfortunate spray of droplets that can travel several feet (which is why we cover our mouths).

The word works as both a noun and a verb. You might spray plants with water, or you might feel the spray from a fountain on a hot day. Hair spray, cooking spray, and bug spray all come in pressurized cans that turn liquids into fine mists when you press the nozzle.

Spray is different from a stream or a pour because the liquid breaks apart into many separate droplets instead of staying together. Think of the difference between pouring water from a cup (which comes out in one continuous flow) and using a spray bottle (which creates a cloud of tiny drops). This makes spray useful for covering large areas evenly, whether you're watering a garden, cleaning windows, or applying sunscreen.