From Middle English sprenkelen, sprynklen, from Middle Dutch sprenkelen, equivalent to .

• IPA: /ˈspɹɪŋkəl/

sprinkle (sprinkles, present participle sprinkling; simple past and past participle sprinkled)

1. (transitive) To cause (a substance) to fall in fine drops (for a liquid substance) or small pieces (for a solid substance).

   The confectioner sprinkled icing sugar over the cakes.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, Leviticus 14:16 ↗:

     And the priest shall […] sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the Lord.

   • 1892, Walter Besant, chapter II, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC ↗:

     At twilight in the summer […] the mice come out. They […] eat the luncheon crumbs. Mr. Checkly, for instance, always brought his dinner in a paper parcel in his coat-tail pocket, and ate it when so disposed, sprinkling crumbs lavishly […] on the floor.

2. (transitive) To cover (an object) by sprinkling a substance on to it.

   The confectioner sprinkled the cakes with icing sugar.

3. (intransitive) To drip in fine drops, sometimes sporadically.

   It sprinkled outside all day long.

4. (intransitive) To rain very lightly outside.

   It sprinkled very early in the morning.

5. (transitive) To baptize by the application of a few drops, or a small quantity, of water; hence, to cleanse; to purify.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, Hebrews 10:22 ↗:

     having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience

• French: saupoudrer, asperger
• German: sprühen
• Italian: spargere, spruzzare
• Portuguese: espirrar
• Russian: бры́згать
• Spanish: salpicar, rociar, asperjar

• German: besprühen
• Italian: aspergere, guarnire
• Portuguese: salpicar, polvilhar
• Russian: пры́скать
• Spanish: espolvorear, rociar

• German: nieseln
• Spanish: lloviznar

sprinkle (plural sprinkles)

1. A light covering with a sprinkled substance.

   He decorated the Christmas card with a sprinkle of glitter.

2. A light rain shower.
3. An aspersorium or utensil for sprinkling.
4. A small hard piece of sugar and starch, or chocolate, used to decorate cakes etc.

   Synonyms: jimmy

• (light covering with a sprinkled substance) sprinkling

• French: crachin
• German: Nieselregen
• Spanish: llovizna

1. Surname.