sprin·kle
ˈspriŋ-kəl
sprinkled; sprinkling
ˈspriŋ-k(ə-)liŋ
1
: to scatter in drops or particles
2
a
: to scatter over
b
: to scatter at intervals in or among : dot
sprinkled the speech with quips
c
: to wet lightly
sprin·kler
ˈspriŋk(ə)lə(r)
plural -s
1
: a machine or device for sprinkling: such as
a
: a vehicle or an attachment to a vehicle for sprinkling streets or roads
b(1)
(2)
c
: a device for spraying plants or lawns
d
: a device for distributing sewage on a filter bed
2
: one that sprinkles: such as
a
: one that sprinkles timbers in mines with chemicals to make them proof against fire and rot
b
: one that sprinkles dry coal or dust in a mine with water to prevent explosions
c
: a laundry worker who uses a sprinkler to dampen clothes for ironing
3
: one that believes in baptism by aspersion rather than by immersion
"
-ed/-ing/-s
: to provide with an automatic sprinkler system
stressing the importance of having all schools sprinklered—Springfield (Massachusetts) Daily News
Cite this Entry
“Sprinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprinkle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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