# sprayed

/ˈspɹeɪd/ (US) · /spɹˈeɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sprayed
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to apply liquid in drops

verb · CEFR B1

to have sent liquid out in many tiny drops, often using a container with a pump.

For teachers: the past tense of 'spray', meaning to have dispersed liquid in a mass of fine droplets through pressure.

- The gardener sprayed the roses with water to keep them fresh in the heat.
- The technician sprayed the circuit board with a specialized cleaning solution to remove the accumulated dust without damaging the delicate components.

Usage: Often used with 'with' to indicate the substance being applied.

### 2. chapped skin

adjective · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect · Archaic

describes skin that is dry, sore, or cracked because of cold or wind.

For teachers: pertaining to skin that has become chapped or irritated due to exposure to cold temperatures.

- His hands were sprayed and red after working outside all day in the snow.
- The old farmer's face was deeply lined and sprayed from decades of exposure to the harsh winter winds of the moorlands.

Teaching tip: This sense is extremely rare and limited to specific British dialects; modern speakers almost exclusively use 'chapped'.

## Examples

- She sprayed the counter with cleaner and wiped it dry.
- The gardener sprayed the roses with water to keep them hydrated during the heatwave.
- After the graffiti artist sprayed the mural across the brick wall, the city council debated whether to preserve the artwork or restore the original surface.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.