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

This reddish appearance is the result of a phenomenon called "Rayleigh scattering" which also makes the sky blue and our sunsets red.

From BBC

Cygnet had long outgrown its technologically outdated, barnlike theater in Old Town San Diego, its lease was uncertain and its operations were scattered around the area, notes Sean Murray, the Cygnet’s co-founder and artistic director.

From Los Angeles Times

Toss it all over egg noodles, finish with a scatter of black pepper and chives, and you’ve got a dish that tastes like comfort, cleverness and a little subtle fire all at once.

From Salon

So far, 32 bodies have been exhumed and more than 70 body parts found scattered in the forest.

From BBC

As people scattered, federal agents can be seen deploying tear gas.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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