smatter

[smat-er]

verb (used with object)

1. to speak (a language, words, etc.) with superficial knowledge or understanding.

2. to dabble in.

noun

1. a slight or superficial knowledge; smattering.

   She gets by with only a smatter of musical knowledge.

2. a small amount or number; smattering.

   a smatter of applause; smatters of nervous laughter.

smatter

/ ˈsmætə /

noun

1. a smattering

verb

1. rare,  (intr) to prattle

2. archaic,  (tr) to dabble in

Other Word Forms

• smatterer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of smatter¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; further origin uncertain; perhaps from Scandinavian; Danish, Norwegian smadre “to splash, smash (to pieces),” Swedish smattra “to clatter, rattle” ( Middle Low German smetern “to chatter”), but the semantic development is unclear

Word History and Origins

Origin of smatter¹

C14 (in the sense: to prattle): of uncertain origin; compare Middle High German smetern to gossip

Example Sentences

The monkey hangs close to streetlamps rather than retreating to any of the neighborhood’s shadowy smatterings of trees.

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Mrs. Apple, suddenly in possession of her voice, shouted the rest of the quote, and earned a smattering of applause for it, too.

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At Lilac Hill, a dead surface was observed by a smattering of polite onlookers, most of them ex-pats.

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A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

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A smattering of applause was just as loud as the boos that came at the full-time whistle as Scotland limped their way to a World Cup qualifying win over Belarus last month.

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Related Words

• blast 
• burst 
• crack 
• crush 
• dash 
• demolish 
• destroy 
• disable 
• exhaust 
• explode 
• fracture 
• impair 
• ruin 
• smash 
• snap 
• splinter 
• split 
• wreck