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

Sri Lanka's health authorities attribute the surge in dengue infections to a cyclone that tore through the island last December, scattering debris that have turned into new breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

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

That alignment reduces scattering of the heat carrying phonons, allowing thermal energy to move through the crystal much more efficiently.

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

Cat pictured the tiny plastic trains catching air and scattering across the room.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

With scatterings of Ukrainians in the crowd, Amosov's name rang out in his native tongue as the fight drew to a close.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2023

Image: DroneSeed Trees can normally regenerate due to the scatterings of pine cones by the wind or with the help of animals.

From The Verge ● Apr. 18, 2022

We know from scatterings of recent history that at this stage of a conflict like the one that continues to unfold in Ukraine, projections months into the future are risky to foolhardy.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 19, 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

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

From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury