---
title: spray — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spray» in the school dictionary: Spray is many tiny drops of liquid flying through the air, like sea spray from waves. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spray

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Spray, bottle, waves, you, Mum, skunk · **What happens:** be, fly, spray, push out, cover, send · **To what, where:** many tiny drops, air, waves, bottle, liquid, tiny drops

<!-- .vabout -->
«spray» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [spray in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spray.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spray is many tiny drops of liquid flying through the air, like sea spray from waves.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:m1:1
# text = Spray is many tiny drops of liquid flying through the air, like sea spray from waves.
1	Spray	spray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	drops	drop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	liquid	liquid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nmod	_	_
8	flying	fly	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
9	through	through	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
15	spray	spray	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
16	from	from	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Spray | many tiny drops |  |  |  | of liquid | tree rules |
| 2 | **fly** | gerund | Spray *not said here* |  |  | the air |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through air=Location |
| 3 | **spray** | present | Spray *not said here* |  |  | waves |  | like sea | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spray is a can or bottle that pushes out a liquid in tiny drops, such as hair spray or bug spray.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:m2:1
# text = A spray is a can or bottle that pushes out a liquid in tiny drops, such as hair spray or bug spray.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spray	spray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	bottle	bottle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	pushes	push	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	drops	drop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	20	case	_	_
18	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	fixed	_	_
19	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	spray	spray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	bug	bug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	spray	spray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can · present | a spray | a bottle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **push out** | present | a bottle | a liquid |  | tiny drops such hair spray or bug spray |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent liquid=Theme in drop=Trajectory |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To spray is to send out liquid in tiny drops, or to cover something that way.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:m3:1
# text = To spray is to send out liquid in tiny drops, or to cover something that way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spray	spray	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	send	send	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	drops	drop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	cover	cover	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	_
16	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	17	det	_	_
17	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spray** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | send *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **cover** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | that way *obl:unmarked* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme something=Destination |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spray of flowers is a small bunch of them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:m4:1
# text = A spray of flowers is a small bunch of them.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spray	spray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	bunch	bunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spray of flowers | a small bunch |  |  |  | of flowers *= flower* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The waves sent salty spray over the rocks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:x1:1
# text = The waves sent salty spray over the rocks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	salty	salty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	spray	spray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past | the waves | salty spray |  | the rocks |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spray=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spray some water on the plants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:x2:1
# text = Spray some water on the plants.
1	Spray	spray	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spray** | imperative | you *not said here* | some water |  | the plants |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent water=Theme on plant=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum used bug spray before the camp.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:x3:1
# text = Mum used bug spray before the camp.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	bug	bug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	spray	spray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	camp	camp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Mum | bug spray |  |  | before the camp |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spray=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A skunk can spray a terrible smell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:x4:1
# text = A skunk can spray a terrible smell.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skunk	skunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	spray	spray	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	smell	smell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spray** | can | a skunk | a terrible smell |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent smell=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The firefighters sprayed water on the fire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:x5:1
# text = The firefighters sprayed water on the fire.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sprayed	spray	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spray** | past | the firefighters | water |  | the fire |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent water=Theme on fire=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not spray cleaner near your face.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:x6:1
# text = Do not spray cleaner near your face.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	spray	spray	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	cleaner	cleaner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	near	near	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **spray** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | cleaner |  | your face |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent cleaner=Theme near face=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I put on sunscreen spray at the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:x7:1
# text = I put on sunscreen spray at the beach.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	sunscreen	sunscreen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	spray	spray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | present | I |  |  | sunscreen spray |  | at the beach | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent on spray=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He gave her a spray of roses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:x8:1
# text = He gave her a spray of roses.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	iobj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	spray	spray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	roses	rose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | He | a spray of roses | her *= she* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent she=Recipient spray=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Splash! splash! the water leaped upward into spray.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spray:x9:1
# text = Splash! splash! the water leaped upward into spray.
1	Splash	splash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
3	splash	splash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
7	leaped	leap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	upward	upward	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	spray	spray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leap** | participle |  | the water *not said here* |  | spray |  | upward *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into spray=Destination |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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