French word

vaporiser

Pronunciation

IPA/vapoʁize/

Meaning

  • verbspray

Example

Ne vaporise pas trop de parfum.

Do not spray too much perfume.

Illustration for vaporiser (spray)

More examples

Il faut vaporiser du désinfectant après le nettoyage.

You have to spray disinfectant after cleaning.

Core concept

A handheld spray releases a cloud of tiny droplets, while heat can make the same liquid disappear into vapor.

Common phrases

  • vaporiser du désinfectant

    spray some disinfectant

  • vaporiser la pièce

    spray the room

Similar words

pulvériser: Turns a substance into powder or fine particles and blows them outward forcefully.
diffuser: Gradually spreads a smell or mist over a broad area.

Definition in French

Faire passer un liquide en aérosol pour le répartir dans l'air ou sur une surface, ou transformer un liquide en vapeur.

Word origin

The verb was formed from French vapeur with the productive suffix -iser, and vapeur derives from Latin vapor, meaning vapor or steam.

Usage tips

  • French vaporiser also means turn a liquid into vapor, whereas English vaporize can additionally suggest destroying something completely or making it disappear.

Other meanings

  • vaporizeverb

Opposites

Related words

  • vaporisateurspray bottlenoun
  • vaporisationsprayingnoun

Word lists with this word