51Թ

Advertisement

View synonyms for

scatter

[skat-er]

verb (used with object)

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

    to scatter seeds.

    Synonyms:
  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

/ ˈæə /

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

“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

noun

  1. the act of scattering

  2. a substance or a number of objects scattered about

“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
Discover More

Other 51Թ Forms

  • scatterable adjective
  • scatterer noun
  • scatteringly adverb
  • ˈٳٱ noun
  • ˈٳٱ adjective
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of scatter1

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

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of scatter1

C13: probably a variant of shatter
Discover More

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.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The righty scattered three hits and four walks across 4 ⅔innings.

From

I also checked back in with Jessica Davis, who runs Boomer’s Buddies, a Malibu animal rescue that helped families track down strays that were scattered by the Palisades fires.

From

A scattered few others previously worked in cybersecurity, design and science.

From

On Friday, the wreckage was still scattered across the crash site, including the blackened wing of the plane, with large pieces of the aircraft stuck in buildings.

From

Images from the scene show debris scattered across a large crash zone, with parts of the aircraft embedded in buildings.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


scat singingscatter-armed