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.

SYNONYMS FOR litter

2 clutter.

9 mess (up).

10 disarrange, derange.

See synonyms for litter on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms for 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. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for litter

Scientists worry most about the worms’ effects on “leaf litter.”
Jumping ‘snake worms’ are invading U.S. forests|Megan Sever|November 9, 2020|Science News For Students
It turned out it had contained not just discarded radioactive material but clay-based organic cat litter.
Finding homes for the waste that will (probably) outlive humanity|Katie McLean|October 21, 2020|MIT Technology Review
A surge in pet adoptions is helping its cat litter business.
How Clorox’s new CEO plans to turn disinfectant wipes into future wins|Phil Wahba|October 21, 2020|Fortune
Reports of litter and overflowing trash bins on busy public lands have increased alongside the visitorship, says Lawhon.
National Parks are logging record crowds. Here’s how to visit safely.|Ula Chrobak|October 15, 2020|Popular Science

I’m concerned about the carbon footprint of cruises, I’m concerned about people dropping litter, I’m concerned about people getting too close to the wildlife.
The Greening of Antarctica - Issue 90: Something Green|Marissa Grunes|October 7, 2020|Nautilus
Littering the living room floor were old sports pages and letters and newspaper clippings.
Football Great Bob Suffridge Wanders Through the End Zone of Life|Paul Hemphill|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No littering,” “no smoking,” “no cooking,” “no camping,” “no dogs,” “no glass containers,” “no alcohol,” “no bonfires.
Why I Hate The Beach|P. J. O’Rourke|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While they were found guilty for only littering, witness testimony included examples of healthy animals being euthanized.
PETA Gone Wild: Flour Bombing Kim Kardashian, Accusing HBO of “Murder”|Tricia Romano|April 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The always-adaptive Taliban forced Americans to rely more on helicopters by littering Afghan roads with IEDs.
The Taliban’s Bait Game|John Barry|August 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
By "blow-out," Chub meant a lot of white quartz that was littering the ground in every direction.
Motor Matt's Daring, or, True to His Friends|Stanley R. Matthews
I saw a parcel of black jags of paper littering the place, and asked what had been going on?
Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10)|Maria Edgeworth
That it had not been intentionally knocked down was probable, else the clay would not have been left littering the window sill.
Belford's Magazine, Vol. II, No. 3, February 1889|Various
He had a grand time, revelling with pen and pad and littering the floor with inked sheets unnumbered and still wet.
When Winter Comes to Main Street|Grant Martin Overton
Writing tools and desk he had already collected; there were plenty of these littering the building in every corner.
"Unto Caesar"|Baroness Emmuska Orczy

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

Medical definitions for litter

litter

[ lĭt′ər ]

n.

A flat supporting framework, such as a piece of canvas stretched between parallel shafts, for carrying a disabled or dead person; a stretcher.

The offspring produced at one birth by a multiparous mammal.brood

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