sprinkle
She sprinkled salt on the eggs before cooking.
She lightly scattered salt over the eggs.
to scatter small drops or particles of liquid or powder lightly over something
The baker sprinkled powdered sugar on the cake.
The baker lightly dusted the cake with powdered sugar.
Rain sprinkled the windshield as we drove.
Light rain lightly covered the windshield.
Often used with food (e.g., sprinkling cheese on pasta) or weather (e.g., sprinkling rain).
a small amount of something scattered or distributed
There was a sprinkle of snow on the ground.
There was a light covering of snow.
A sprinkle of cinnamon enhances the flavor.
A small amount of cinnamon improves the taste.
Can refer to light precipitation or a small quantity of something.
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Pro Tip
Common Mistake: Overuse of 'sprinkle'
Avoid using 'sprinkle' for heavy pouring (e.g., 'sprinkle water' vs. 'pour water'). 'Sprinkle' implies light scattering.
Gold Rule
When to Use 'Sprinkle'
Use 'sprinkle' for small, gentle distributions of liquid or powder. For larger amounts, use 'pour' or 'dump'.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'sprenkelen', from Old English 'sprencan' (to scatter), related to Dutch 'sprenkelen' and German 'spritzen' (to squirt).
Usage Notes
Common in cooking (e.g., sprinkling cheese) and weather reports (e.g., 'light sprinkle of rain'). Often implies gentleness or small quantity.