Definition

1. Noun:

   • A light, scattered fall of liquid or small particles: A "sprinkle" refers to a small, scattered amount of something, such as rain, water, or a powdered substance.
   • The act of scattering small amounts: It can also mean the action of scattering or distributing something lightly and thinly.

2. Verb:

   • To scatter or distribute small drops or particles lightly over a surface: The primary meaning is to distribute a liquid or a granular substance in small, scattered amounts.
   • To rain lightly in scattered drops: When referring to weather, "sprinkle" means to rain in a very light, intermittent way.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The forecast calls for a sprinkle of rain this afternoon.
  • Add a sprinkle of cinnamon on top of the latte for decoration.

• Verb:

  • Please sprinkle some salt over the vegetables before roasting.
  • It started to sprinkle just as we left the house, so we didn't need an umbrella.

Advanced Usage

• "to sprinkle something with something": To cover a surface lightly with small amounts of another substance.
  • She sprinkled the cake with powdered sugar.
• "to sprinkle something on/over something": To scatter something lightly onto a surface.
  • He sprinkled seeds over the freshly turned soil.

Variants and Related Words

• Sprinkling (noun): A small, scattered number or amount.
  • There was only a sprinkling of people in the audience.
• Sprinkler (noun): A device used to sprinkle water, especially for lawns or in case of fire.
  • The garden sprinkler turns on automatically every morning.

Synonyms

• Scatter: To throw or drop things so they spread loosely over an area.
• Dust: To cover lightly with a powdery substance.
• Drizzle (for rain): To rain in very fine, light drops.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Sprinkle" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically contained in the single verb form.)

Related Idioms

• A sprinkle of stardust: A metaphorical phrase meaning a touch of magic or special quality.
  • The veteran actor brought a sprinkle of stardust to the small theater production.

Noun

1. the act of sprinkling or splashing water
   • baptized with a sprinkling of holy water
   • a sparge of warm water over the malt
2. a light shower that falls in some locations and not others nearby

Verb

1. scatter with liquid; wet lightly
   • Sprinkle the lawn
2. rain gently
   • It has only sprinkled, but the roads are slick
3. cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force
   • She splashed the water around her
4. distribute loosely
   • He scattered gun powder under the wagon