What does sprinkler mean?
A sprinkler is a device that distributes water in a spray, most commonly for watering lawns, gardens, or agricultural land. It may consist of a rotating or oscillating head connected to a hose, or a more elaborate network of pipes and outlets. In another established meaning, a sprinkler is part of a fire-protection system that releases water automatically to help suppress a fire. The word is familiar in both British and American English and often evokes the routine sounds and sights of domestic gardening, including the hiss of water and the slow sweep of a rotating sprinkler head. In technical and safety contexts, the term can be highly consequential, since sprinklers are designed to provide rapid, widespread fire suppression. The word derives from the older verb sprinkle, meaning to scatter or fall in small drops.
nounA device or system that sprays water over an area, especially one used to water plants or lawns. The term can also refer to a fire-protection device that releases water to suppress a fire.
- A device that sprays water, typically over a garden, lawn, or agricultural area.
- A device or system that releases water from a ceiling or other fixed installation to help control a fire.
"She turned on the sprinkler before leaving for work, and the garden was soon covered with a fine mist."
"The sprinkler ran for twenty minutes while the rain gauge recorded only a trace of rainfall."
"The building's fire sprinkler activated automatically when smoke reached the ceiling sensor."
The plural is used when referring to multiple watering devices or fire-sprinkler components or installations.
"The sprinklers came on automatically just before sunrise."
A sprinkler turns a simple spray of water into the defining image of a tended lawn.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sprinkler come from?
The noun sprinkler was formed in the 16th century by adding the suffix -er to the verb sprinkle. Sprinkle itself comes from Middle English sprenkel, meaning to scatter in drops, and is related to words such as sprinkling that express the same basic idea of scattering liquid or small particles. The device sense developed as a mechanical means of distributing water in a spray, while the fire-protection sense emerged later from the broader idea of water being scattered over an area.
How sprinkler is actually used
In general use, sprinkler most often refers to an outdoor watering device; in building and fire-safety contexts, it commonly refers to a fire-protection sprinkler or sprinkler system.
Easily confused with sprinkler
A sprinkler is the device that distributes water, while a sprinkle is the light scattering of water or small particles.