scatter

[skat-er]

verb (used with object)

1. to throw loosely about; distribute at irregular intervals.

   to scatter seeds.

   Synonyms: broadcast

2. to separate and drive off in various directions; disperse.

   to scatter a crowd.

3. Physics.

   1. to refract or diffract (light or otherelectromagnetic radiation ) irregularly so as to diffuse in many directions.

   2. (of a medium) to diffuse or deflect (light or other wave phenomena) by collisions between the wave and particles of the medium.

verb (used without object)

1. to separate and disperse; go in different directions.

noun

1. the act of scattering.

2. something that is scattered.

scatter

/ ˈskætə /

verb

1. (tr) to throw about in various directions; strew

2. to separate and move or cause to separate and move in various directions; disperse

3. to deviate or cause to deviate in many directions, as in the diffuse reflection or refraction of light

noun

1. the act of scattering

2. a substance or a number of objects scattered about

Other Word Forms

• scatterable adjective
• scatterer noun
• scatteringly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of scatter¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English scatere; compare Dutch schateren “to burst out laughing”

Word History and Origins

Origin of scatter¹

C13: probably a variant of _shatter

Synonym Study

See sprinkle. Scatter, dispel, disperse, dissipate imply separating and driving something away so that its original form disappears. To scatter is to separate something tangible into parts at random, and drive these in different directions: The wind scattered leaves all over the lawn. To dispel is to drive away or scatter usually intangible things so that they vanish or cease to exist: Photographs of the race dispelled all doubts as to which horse won. To disperse is usually to cause a compact or organized tangible body to separate or scatter in different directions, to be reassembled if desired: Tear gas dispersed the mob. To dissipate is usually to scatter by dissolving or reducing to small atoms or parts that cannot be brought together again: He dissipated his money and his energy in useless activities.

Example Sentences

Dead insects are scattered along the steps in front of me.

Read more on Literature

He stood at the counter and shoved the food into his mouth like a starved animal, scattering crumbs over himself and the floor.

Read more on Literature

He dug into his trouser pockets and came out with fistfuls of grain, which he scattered on the ground.

Read more on Literature

Even now, as she escorted the Incorrigible children on their first-ever outdoor bird-watching expedition, she could not help noticing the small white flowers scattered throughout the lush grass of the parkland surrounding Ashton Place.

Read more on Literature

Old Timothy turned and cracked his whip over the heads of the pirates, to scatter the crowd.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• discard 
• distribute 
• divide 
• fling 
• litter 
• pour 
• shatter 
• shower 
• spray 
• spread 
• sprinkle