Meaning & use
squirter
Last updated
UK/ˈskwɜːtə/
US/ˈskwɜːrtər/
Meaning
nouncountable
An informal word for a device or toy that pushes out a thin jet of liquid when squeezed or pumped.
Grammar: Has a plural, squirters; use 'a squirter' for one toy or nozzle device.
Patterns
- a water squirter
- a ketchup squirter
- squirter toy
The children filled each plastic squirter from the pool.
She bought a mustard squirter for the picnic table.
Word forms
| plural | squirters |
|---|
Common combinations
- water squirter
- A cheap water squirter kept the kids busy in the yard.
- plastic squirter
- The plastic squirter cracked after one summer.
- little squirter
- He hid a little squirter behind his back.
- squirter toy
- The shop sells every squirter toy in bright colors.
Synonyms and how they differ
- water pistol
- Water pistol usually means a toy gun-shaped squirter, especially for play fights.
- spray bottle
- Spray bottle fits household or garden containers that mist liquid, not always a narrow jet.
- syringe
- Syringe is the precise medical device and is not a toy word.
Word family
- squirt verb
- To force liquid out in a thin jet.
- squirt noun
- A small jet of liquid, or informally a small person.
Commonly confused: squirter or squirrel?
squirter vs squirrel
Squirrel is the animal; it is unrelated despite the similar opening sound.
Practice
Choose the most natural sentence.
Choose one answer.
Squirter is countable, so one toy is 'a squirter.' Without the article it sounds uncountable, 'some squirter' is unnatural, and 'squirterses' is a wrong plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “squirter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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