Showing results for "scattering"

• present participle of scatter.

scattering

American  

[skat-er-ing] / ˈskæt ər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. distributed or occurring here and there at irregular intervals; scattered.

2. straggling, as an assemblage of parts.

3. (of votes) cast in small numbers for various candidates.

4. distributing, dispersing, or separating.

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noun

• scatterings
  plural

1. a small, scattered number or quantity.

2. Physics. the process in which a wave or beam of particles is diffused or deflected by collisions with particles of the medium that it traverses.

scattering British  

/ ˈskætərɪŋ /

noun

1. a small amount

2. physics the process in which particles, atoms, etc, are deflected as a result of collision

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scattering Scientific  

/ skăt′ər-ĭng /

1. The spreading of a stream of particles or a beam of rays, as of light, over a range of directions as a result of collisions with other particles. The sky appears blue due to the tendency of air molecules to scatter blue and violet light more than light of other frequencies. The scattering probabilities and patterns of subatomic particles, accelerated by particle accelerators and aimed at a target, is a major component of experimental particle physics.

2. See also diffusion cross section

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• scatterings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of scattering

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at scatter, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scattering scatterings

I’ve topped bowls with butter-soaked, cardamom-dusted sourdough croutons, a simple scattering of pistachios, granola and even dried coconut flakes, and each has worked beautifully.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026

Using advanced inelastic neutron scattering techniques, the researchers observed both the positions of atoms within the crystal and how those atoms moved.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

At a media tour earlier this week, the massive Convention Center-scaled space was largely empty, save for dormant cranes, a scattering of workers and the occasional hum of drilling.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

Fireworks can frighten animals and send them scattering, but Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets apparently are made of sterner stuff.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

At the crossroads of the County Road and Yellow Dog lay a scattering of stores and houses.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

The results range from scatterings of notes in a strange tempo to fully composed ambient music.

From The Verge ● Mar. 8, 2022

The mauled scatterings of boxes and packages along the train tracks look like the crime scene from a Christmas Eve Santa sleigh-jacking.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2022

Cavernous home arenas, with scatterings of spectators at most, emphasize the emptiness.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 16, 2021

On one level, Arisen My Senses sounds like chaos: crashing rhythms and overlapping voices that render the lyrics largely incomprehensible, alongside unpredictable scatterings of harp and explosions of electronics.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 24, 2019

The garden sprinklers whirled up in golden founts, filling the soft morning air with scatterings of brightness.

From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury