Sprinkle

/ˈspɹɪŋkəl/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To cause (a substance) to fall in fine drops (for a liquid substance) or small pieces (for a solid substance)..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To cause (a substance) to fall in fine drops (for a liquid substance) or small pieces (for a solid substance).
2. (transitive) To cover (an object) by sprinkling a substance on to it.
3. (intransitive) To drip in fine drops, sometimes sporadically.
4. (intransitive) To rain very lightly outside.
5. (transitive) To baptize by the application of a few drops, or a small quantity, of water; hence, to cleanse; to purify.
6. A light covering with a sprinkled substance.
7. A light rain shower.
8. An aspersorium or utensil for sprinkling.

Example Sentences

The confectioner sprinkled icing sugar over the cakes.

And the priest shall[…]sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the Lord.

At twilight in the summer[…]the mice come out. They[…]eat the luncheon crumbs. Mr. Checkly, for instance, always brought his dinner in a paper parcel in his coat-tail pocket, and ate it when so disposed, sprinkling crumbs lavishly[…]on the floor.

Over the centuries the movement of clans and tribes of people has provided the kind of crop that would emerge if a blind god had sprinkled seeds at random on a field[.]

The confectioner sprinkled the cakes with icing sugar.

Most of the passengers watched from the enclosed promenade deck, but Sandra found her way to the higher, open promenade where she shivered and watched the city lights fade and the stars sprinkle themselves across a dark blue velvet sky.

It sprinkled outside all day long.

It sprinkled very early in the morning.

Synonyms for sprinkle

Antonyms for sprinkle

Related Words

Word Forms

• sprinkles
• sprinkling
• sprinkled

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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