litter

[ lit-er ]

/ ˈlɪt ər /

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See synonyms for: litter / littered / littering on Thesaurus.com

noun

objects strewn or scattered about; scattered rubbish.

a condition of disorder or untidiness: We were appalled at the litter of the room.

a number of young brought forth by a multiparous animal at one birth: a litter of six kittens.

a framework of cloth stretched between two parallel bars, for the transportation of a sick or wounded person; stretcher.

a vehicle carried by people or animals, consisting of a bed or couch, often covered and curtained, suspended between shafts.

straw, hay, or the like, used as bedding for animals or as protection for plants.

the layer of slightly decomposed organic material on the surface of the floor of the forest.

cat litter.

verb (used with object)

to strew (a place) with scattered objects, rubbish, etc.: to be fined for littering the sidewalk.

to scatter (objects) in disorder: They littered their toys from one end of the playroom to the other.

to be strewn about (a place) in disorder (often followed by up): Bits of paper littered the floor.

to give birth to (young), as a multiparous animal.

to supply (an animal) with litter for a bed.

to use (straw, hay, etc.) for litter.

to cover (a floor or other area) with straw, hay, etc., for litter.

verb (used without object)

to give birth to a litter: The cat had littered in the closet.

to strew objects about: If you litter, you may be fined.

OTHER WORDS FOR litter

2 clutter.

9 mess (up).

10 disarrange, derange.

See synonyms for litter on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about litter

pick of the litter,

the best or choicest of the animals, especially puppies, in a litter.
the best of any class, group, or available selection.

Origin of litter

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English litere “bed, litter,” from Anglo-French; Old French litiere, from Medieval Latin lectāria, equivalent to Latin lect(us) “bed” + -āria feminine of -ārius noun suffix; see -er²

synonym study for litter

3. See brood.

OTHER WORDS FROM litter

lit·ter·er, nounan·ti·lit·ter, adjectivean·ti·lit·ter·ing, adjectivede-litter, verb (used with object)

un·lit·tered, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH litter

letter, lighter, liter, litter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use litter in a sentence

Interest in outdoor recreation is at an all-time high in British Columbia, leading to crowds, litter, braided trails, and unnecessary searches and rescues.
Dropping the Localism: Outsiders Are Welcome|Outside Editors|January 13, 2021|Outside Online
According to street lore, their mother died the night they were born and only three of the litter survived.
I have the pandemic to thank for this precious time with my old hound, Teddy|Diana Nyad|December 21, 2020|Washington Post
The firm manages animals selected to be the healthiest and fastest growing, and to have the largest litters.
Gene editing has made pigs immune to a deadly epidemic|Katie McLean|December 11, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Beach runners might be tempted to go barefoot, but stray rocks, shells, and other forms of litter and debris can wreak havoc on your feet, so it’s in your best interest to keep them covered.
Best running shoes for men: Five things to consider|Eric Alt|December 9, 2020|Popular-Science

These worms can reduce a forest’s leaf litter by 95 percent in a single season, he’s found.
Jumping ‘snake worms’ are invading U.S. forests|Megan Sever|November 9, 2020|Science News For Students
My Twitter feed was quickly littered with tweets defending Cosby.
What Trait Do Bill Cosby’s Defenders Share?|Dean Obeidallah|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The comedian was right to call out Bill Cosby, but his material is littered with jokes about rape.
Bill Cosby Foe Hannibal Buress Joked About Date Rape|Rich Goldstein|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The British aristocracy is littered with stories of unmitigated spendthrifts who seem bent on self-destruction.
The Secrets of Britain’s Wildest Aristocrats|Tom Sykes|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Glass fragments from windows, street lamps, car windshields, and theater marquees littered the streets like confetti.
‘The Harness Maker’s Dream:’ The Unlikely Ranch King of Texas|Nick Kotz|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Israeli bullet casings littered the floors of the entrances to residences that were transformed into stucco barracks.
Did Israel Execute Jihadists in Gaza?|Jesse Rosenfeld|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But a doctor Faustus, in his cell littered with books and instruments of alchemy, would love always to have a cat for a companion.
Charles Baudelaire, His Life|Thophile Gautier
The floor was littered with paper and proofs; on the desk a slip of galley proof lay.
The Weight of the Crown|Fred M. White
A lamp burned in the kitchen, showing a dirty brick floor and a littered table—such a house as men keep, untidy and unhomelike.
The Amazing Interlude|Mary Roberts Rinehart
She raised her eyes, still with the same strange yet flaming quiet, from the littered floor to his face.
Marriage la mode|Mrs. Humphry Ward
And at that time Nona came from the cabin, and called me, looking wonderingly at the arrows that littered the deck at her feet.
A Prince of Cornwall|Charles W. Whistler

British Dictionary definitions for litter

litter

/ (ˈlɪtə) /

noun

small refuse or waste materials carelessly dropped, esp in public places
(as modifier)litter bin

a disordered or untidy condition or a collection of objects in this condition

a group of offspring produced at one birth by a mammal such as a sow

a layer of partly decomposed leaves, twigs, etc, on the ground in a wood or forest

straw, hay, or similar material used as bedding, protection, etc, by animals or plants

See cat litter

a means of conveying people, esp sick or wounded people, consisting of a light bed or seat held between parallel sticks

verb

to make (a place) untidy by strewing (refuse)

to scatter (objects, etc) about or (of objects) to lie around or upon (anything) in an untidy fashion

(of pigs, cats, etc) to give birth to (offspring)

(tr) to provide (an animal or plant) with straw or hay for bedding, protection, etc

Word Origin for litter

C13 (in the sense: bed): via Anglo-French, ultimately from Latin lectus bed

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

litter

OTHER WORDS FOR litter

Idioms about litter

Origin of litter

synonym study for litter

OTHER WORDS FROM litter

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH litter

Words related to litter

How to use litter in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for litter

Word Origin for litter