sprinkle

(spriŋkəl)

transitive verb sprinkled, sprinkling

  1. to scatter (water, sand, etc.) in drops or particles
    1. to scatter drops or particles upon; cover or strew with a sprinkling
    2. to dampen before ironing
  2. to distribute at random or in a pattern

Origin: ME sprinklen, akin to Ger sprenkeln: see spark

intransitive verb

  1. to scatter something in drops or particles
  2. to fall in drops or particles
  3. to rain lightly or infrequently

noun

  1. the act of sprinkling
  2. a small quantity; sprinkling
  3. a light rain
  4. tiny pieces of candy, variously flavored and shaped, used for decorating cookies, servings of ice cream, etc.

Related Forms:

See sprinkle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb sprin·kled, sprin·kling, sprin·kles
verb, transitive
  1. To scatter in drops or particles: sprinkled sugar on the cereal.
  2. To scatter drops or particles on.
  3. To intersperse with something as if by scattering: sprinkled his speech with quotations.
  4. To distribute or intersperse at random.
verb, intransitive
  1. To scatter something in drops or particles.
  2. To fall or rain in small or infrequent drops.
noun
  1. The act of sprinkling.
  2. A light rainfall.
  3. A small amount; a sprinkling.
  4. sprinkles Small particles of candy sprinkled on ice cream as a topping.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English sprenklen

Origin: , perhaps of Middle Dutch or Middle Low German origin

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