scatteredscat‧tered /ˈskætəd $ -ərd/ adjective 
Broken glass lay scattered over the floor.scattered with The sky was scattered with stars. There will be some scattered showers (=short periods of rain) in the afternoon. a widely scattered set of islands
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Pieces of twisted metal and rusted pipe lay scattered around the yard.
- There was scattered gunfire and looting in the area.
- There were books scattered all about their cottage.
- It is difficult to maintain control where a scattered enforcement staff possess high discretion.
- Springtime flatters this part of the Somme countryside, undramatic with its flat fields and scattered villages.
Longman Language Activatorwhen people or things are spread over a wide area
things that are scattered are spread over a large area in an irregular or untidy way: scattered about/over/among etc: · There were books scattered all about their cottage.· Pieces of twisted metal and rusted pipe lay scattered around the yard.
things that are spread out are spread over a large area with a lot of space between them: spread out on/among/across: · Diane had her newspaper spread out all over the floor.· Several small cabins were spread out across the property.
spread across a wide area - use this about towns, buildings, or groups of buildings that you think take up too much space and are ugly or unpleasant: · The sprawling conference and resort center even has its own transportation system.· a sprawling city of 2.6 million
if a number of things of the same type are dotted around an area, they are spread over it irregularly and unevenly: dotted around/along/here and there etc: · All we saw were a few workmen's cottages dotted here and there along the road.· Picnic tables were dotted among the trees.dotted with: · Their street was dotted with burned-out and boarded-up buildings.
spread unevenly in a way that looks very untidy: strewn over/around etc: · Clothes were strewn all over the bedroom floor.strewn with: · Glover's yard was strewn with garbage and builders' debris.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY There will be some scattered showers (=short periods of rain) in the afternoon. a widely scattered set of islandsCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES His ashes were scattered at sea.
spread over a wide area or over a long period of timescattered over/throughout/across/around etc There will be some scattered showers (=short periods of rain) in the afternoon. a widely scattered set of islands· Parts of the plane were scattered over a wide area.
His ashes were scattered at sea.· The wreckage was strewn over a large area.
· The equipment was used to clear the scattered wreckage of the two trains.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Open country, with crags or scattered trees, sea cliffs, towns and villages.· Woodland and country with scattered trees, also on cliffs and sometimes in towns.· Borders of woodland and moorland, moors, steppes and swampy heaths with scattered trees, especially birches and pines.
Broken glass lay scattered over the floor.scattered with The sky was scattered with stars. There will be some scattered showers (=short periods of rain) in the afternoon. a widely scattered set of islands