{
    "term": "spray",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "very small drops of a liquid that are sent through the air, for example by the wind",
            "labels": "(figurative)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The advertisement showed a group of horsemen on the beach, galloping through the sea spray."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A cloud of fine spray came up from the waterfall."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a spray of machine-gun bullets"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Spray flew up onto the rocks."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The boat sent a cloud of spray up behind it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a spray of salt water"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The skunk is capable of ejecting a spray of foul-smelling liquid."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["fine", "light", "salt"],
                "… of spray": ["cloud", "plume"],
                "verb + spray": ["send", "send up", "throw"],
                "spray + verb": ["fly", "fly up"],
                "preposition": ["spray of"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a substance that is forced out of a container such as an aerosol, in very small drops",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a can of insect spray *(= used to kill insects)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "body spray"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a casserole dish sprayed with non-stick cooking spray"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["bug", "fly", "body"],
                "verb + spray": ["apply", "use"],
                "spray + noun": ["bottle", "can", "paint"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a device or container, for example an aerosol, that you use to apply liquid in fine drops",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a throat spray"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Use a spray to apply the weedkiller."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "an act of applying liquid to something in very small drops",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I gave the plants a quick spray."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "a small branch of a tree or plant, with its leaves and flowers or berries, that you use for decoration",
            "examples": [],
            "synonyms": "sprig"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "an attractive arrangement of flowers or jewellery, that you wear",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a spray of orchids"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/spreɪ/",
                "audio": "sp/spray/spray__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/spreɪ/",
                "audio": "sp/spray/spray__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "noun senses 1 to 4 early 17th cent. (earlier as spry): related to Middle Dutch spra(e)yen ‘sprinkle’. noun senses 5 to 6 Middle English: representing late Old English (e)sprei, recorded in personal and place names, of unknown origin."
}