sprinkling
/'spriɳkliɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A small, scattered amount or number: A "sprinkling" refers to a small quantity of something distributed or occurring here and there, not in a concentrated mass.
- A light, scattered fall of something: It can describe a light shower of rain or a light dusting of a substance like snow or powder.
- The act of scattering in small drops or particles: "Sprinkling" denotes the action of sprinkling something, such as water or salt.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The forecast calls for a light sprinkling of rain this afternoon.
- There was only a sprinkling of people in the audience for the early show.
- The recipe calls for a final sprinkling of fresh herbs before serving.
- The priest performed the sprinkling of holy water.
Advanced Usage
- "a sprinkling of [something]": This is the most common collocation, used to indicate a small, scattered amount of a particular thing.
- The article contained a sprinkling of technical terms.
- Her speech was met with a sprinkling of applause.
Variants and Related Words
- Sprinkle (verb): To scatter or distribute small drops or particles of something over an object or surface.
- Sprinkle the path with sand to make it less slippery.
- Sprinkler (noun): A device used to sprinkle water, especially for watering lawns or putting out fires.
Synonyms
- Scattering: A small, dispersed number or amount.
- Dusting: A light, fine covering or sprinkling of a powder.
- Handful: A small number or amount.
- Few: A small number of.
Related Phrases
- Like a sprinkling of [metaphor]: Used figuratively to describe a light, sparse distribution.
- The valley was dotted with houses like a sprinkling of sugar cubes.
Related Idioms
- A mere sprinkling: Emphasizes that the amount is very small or insignificant.
- Only a mere sprinkling of voters turned out for the special election.
Noun
- the act of sprinkling or splashing water
- baptized with a sprinkling of holy water
- a sparge of warm water over the malt
- the act of sprinkling water in baptism (rare)
- a light shower that falls in some locations and not others nearby
- a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
- the first scatterings of green
- a sprinkling of grey at his temples