Sprinkle: meaning, definitions and examples

Often used when referring to lightly covering an area with small amounts of a substance, such as liquids or powders.

• She decided to sprinkle some cinnamon on her latte.
• The baker sprinkled sugar on top of the freshly baked cookies.

Used when things are thrown or spread in various directions irregularly and over a wide area. Often implies a certain level of disorganization.

• He scattered the papers all over the desk.
• The children scattered toys around the living room.

Generally used when something is spread widely in different directions, often implying a more even spread. Can refer to physical objects, people, or even intangible things like gases or information.

• The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
• The wind helped to disperse the seeds across the field.

Refers to spraying a small amount of liquid in short bursts. Common in beauty, cooking, or cleaning contexts.

• She decided to spritz her hair with some water to refresh it.
• Can you spritz some lemon juice on the salad?

Suitable for describing very light, scattered rain, where individual drops can be felt but it's hardly wetting anything.

• There was just a light sprinkle this morning, barely enough to get the ground damp

Describes a brief period of rain, which can vary in intensity but usually not as heavy as a downpour. Showers are shorter and more intermittent.

• The weather forecast predicts a few showers in the afternoon, so we might want to bring an umbrella

Used to describe light rain that falls steadily and gently. It's more continuous than a sprinkle but still light.

• I love walking in a gentle drizzle; it feels refreshing without getting soaked

A general term referring to the amount of rain that falls over a certain period. It can be used in both scientific and casual conversations.

• The area received heavy rainfall last night, causing some minor flooding