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

• scatterer noun
• scatterable adjective
• 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

The Bowl’s former residents — artists, teachers, lifeguards, boat riggers, bookstore owners and chefs — are now scattered across Southern California and the globe.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The instinct that pairs chèvre with strawberries is the same one that tells you to finish a bowl of lentils with lemon juice, or to scatter pickled shallots over roast chicken.

Read more on Salon

The slope of the roof, for instance, reflects the mid-century butterfly roofs scattered throughout the predominantly Chinese neighborhood, while the arc of the terrace references historic courtyard houses and gardens in China.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The tribes’ suit alleged that the dozens of gambling halls scattered across California were illegally offering card games such as black jack and pai gow poker that cut into the tribes’ gambling revenues.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Officials said debris was scattered for half a mile around where the building once stood.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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