Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense scatters, present participle scattering, past tense, past participle scattered
1. verb
If you scatter things over an area, you throw or drop them so that they spread all over the area.
She tore the rose apart and scattered the petals over the grave. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
They've been scattering toys everywhere. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
He began by scattering seed and putting in plants. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: throw about, spread, sprinkle, strew More Synonyms of scatter
2. verb
If a group of people scatter or if you scatter them, they suddenly separate and move in different directions.
After dinner, everyone scattered. [VERB]
The cavalry scattered them and chased them off the field. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: disperse, separate, break up, dispel More Synonyms of scatter
3. singular noun [usually NOUNof noun]
A scatterof things is a number of them spread over an area in an irregular way.
[literary]
On the table was a pile of books and a scatter of papers.
4. See also scattered, scattering
More Synonyms of scatter
scatter in British English
(ˈskætə)
verb
1. (transitive)
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
4.
the act of scattering
5.
a substance or a number of objects scattered about
Derived forms
scatterable (ˈscatterable)
adjective
scatterer (ˈscatterer)
noun
Word origin
C13: probably a variant of shatter
scatter in American English
(ˈskætər)
verb transitive
1.
a.
to throw here and there or strew loosely; sprinkle
b.
to sprinkle over (with) something
2.
to separate and drive in many directions; rout; disperse
3. Archaic
to waste; dissipate
4. Physics
to diffuse or deflect in an irregular, random manner
verb intransitive
5.
to separate and go off in several directions
the crowd scattered
noun
6.
the act or process of scattering
7.
that which is scattered about
SYNONYMY NOTE: scatter implies a strewing around loosely [to scatter seeds] or a forcible driving apart in different directions [the breeze scattered the papers]; disperse implies a scattering which completely breaks up an assemblage and spreads the individualsfar and wide [a people dispersed throughout the world]; dissipate implies complete dissolution, as by crumbling, wasting, etc. [to dissipate a fortune]; dispel suggests a scattering that drives away something that obscures, confuses, troubles,etc. [to dispel fears]
OPPOSITES: assemble, gather, collect
Derived forms
scatterer (ˈscatterer)
noun
Word origin
ME skateren, ult. < IE *sked-, to split, disperse < base *sek-, to cut > L secare
Examples of 'scatter' in a sentence
scatter
We unpacked them very carefully and pulled them to pieces and scattered the straw about.
E. Nesbit The Treasure Seekers (1899)
Where do you want your ashes scattered?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Yet the atmosphere does scatter laser light a slight amount.
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
Before you knew it the field had scattered.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Pretty it up by scattering in rose petals.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Grab a table scattered with plant pots and work your way through the wine list.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We had bowls of them scattered about the house.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When the scorer died his will requested that his ashes be scattered on the cricket square.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Information is now scattered far more widely than was the case with terrestrial broadcasting.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Bodies are torn apart and limbs are scattered about.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
His ashes are scattered on the gallops.
The Sun (2009)
England will not become another Ireland with bungalows scattered over rolling fields.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The sun rose a little higher, scattering light around the room.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Then there's the usual dotcom accoutrements such as ping pong and table football scattered around the office.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
scatter
British English: scatter VERB
If you scatter things over an area, you throw or drop them so that they spread all over the area.
She scattered the rose petals on the ground.
American English: scatter
Brazilian Portuguese: espalhar
Chinese: 撒
European Spanish: esparcir
French: éparpiller
German: verstreuen
Italian: sparpagliare
Japanese: ばらまく
Korean: 흩뿌리다
European Portuguese: espalhar
Latin American Spanish: esparcir
All related terms of 'scatter'
scatter-gun
a shotgun
scatter pin
a small decorative pin usually worn in groups of two or three
scatter rug
a small rug used to cover a limited area
scatter-site
designating or of inexpensive , publicly owned or financed housing units scattered throughout middle-class residential areas
scatter cushion
Scatter cushions are small cushions for use on sofas and chairs .
scatter diagram
a graph that plots along two axes at right angles to each other the relationship between two variable quantities, such as height and weight
tropospheric scatter
scattering in the earth's troposphere , used in scatter communication at VHF and UHF for ranges beyond line of sight
scattergun
A scattergun is a gun that fires a lot of small metal balls at the same time.
scatterbrained
If you describe someone as scatterbrained , you mean that they often forget things and are unable to organize their thoughts properly.
scattergram
a graph that plots along two axes at right angles to each other the relationship between two variable quantities, such as height and weight
Chinese translation of 'scatter'
scatter
(ˈskætəʳ)
vt
(= drop)
to scatter sth over/on sth将(將)某物撒在某处(處) (jiāng mǒuwù sǎ zài mǒuchù)
(untidily) 乱(亂)放 (luànfàng)
(= disperse) 驱(驅)散 (qūsàn)
vi
分散 (fēnsàn)
1 (verb)
Definition
to throw about in various directions
He began by scattering seed and putting in plants.
Synonyms
throw about
spread
Someone has been spreading rumours about us.
sprinkle
strew
By the end, bodies were strewn all around the headquarters building.
broadcast
Don't broadcast your business outside the family.
shower
fling
litter
Concrete holiday resorts are littered across the mountainside.
sow
Yesterday the field opposite was sown with maize.
diffuse
Our aim is to diffuse new ideas obtained from elsewhere.
disseminate
The press plays a critical part in disseminating news and information.
Opposites
collect,
gather
2 (verb)
Definition
to separate and move in various directions
After dinner, everyone scattered.
Synonyms
disperse
The crowd dispersed peacefully.
separate
Let's separate into smaller groups.
break up
The crowd broke up reluctantly.
dispel
He will hope to dispel their fears.
disband
All the armed groups will be disbanded.
dissipate
go their separate ways
disunite
go in different directions
put to flight
We were put to flight by a herd of bullocks.
Opposites
assemble
,
converge
, congregate, unite,
rally
,
gather
3 (verb)
bays picturesquely scattered with rocky islets
Synonyms
dot
Small coastal towns dotted the area.
spot
a brown shoe spotted with paint
sprinkle
Cheese can be sprinkled on egg and vegetable dishes.
pepper
The road was peppered with glass.
litter
fleck
patches of red paint which flecked her blouse
stipple
Additional synonyms
in the sense of break up
Definition
to separate or cause to separate
The crowd broke up reluctantly.
Synonyms
scatter,
separate,
divide,
dissolve
in the sense of broadcast
Definition
to make widely known throughout an area
Don't broadcast your business outside the family.
Synonyms
make public,
report,
announce,
publish,
spread,
advertise,
proclaim,
circulate,
disseminate,
promulgate,
shout from the rooftops (informal)
in the sense of diffuse
Definition
to spread over a wide area
Our aim is to diffuse new ideas obtained from elsewhere.
Synonyms
spread,
distribute,
scatter,
circulate,
disperse,
dispense,
dispel,
dissipate,
propagate,
disseminate
Synonyms of 'scatter'
scatter
Explore 'scatter' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disband
Definition
to stop or cause to stop functioning as a unit or group
All the armed groups will be disbanded.
Synonyms
dismiss,
separate,
break up,
scatter,
dissolve,
let go,
disperse,
send home,
demobilize
in the sense of dispel
Definition
to disperse or drive away
He will hope to dispel their fears.
Synonyms
drive away,
dismiss,
eliminate,
resolve,
scatter,
expel,
disperse,
banish,
rout,
allay,
dissipate,
chase away
in the sense of disseminate
Definition
to spread (information, ideas, etc.) widely
The press plays a critical part in disseminating news and information.
Synonyms
spread,
publish,
broadcast,
distribute,
scatter,
proclaim,
circulate,
sow,
disperse,
diffuse,
publicize,
dissipate,
propagate,
promulgate
in the sense of disunite
Synonyms
separate,
part,
split,
divide,
disrupt,
detach,
sever,
disband,
segregate,
disconnect,
disengage,
sunder,
disjoin
in the sense of fleck
Definition
to speckle
patches of red paint which flecked her blouse
Synonyms
speckle,
mark,
spot,
dust,
dot,
streak,
dapple,
stipple,
mottle,
variegate,
bespeckle,
besprinkle
in the sense of litter
Definition
to scatter or be scattered in an untidy fashion
Concrete holiday resorts are littered across the mountainside.
Synonyms
scatter,
spread,
shower,
strew
in the sense of pepper
Definition
to sprinkle liberally
The road was peppered with glass.
Synonyms
sprinkle,
spot,
scatter,
dot,
stud,
fleck,
intersperse,
speck,
spatter,
freckle,
stipple,
bespatter
in the sense of put to flight
Definition
to cause to run away
We were put to flight by a herd of bullocks.
Synonyms
drive off,
scatter,
disperse,
rout,
stampede,
scare off,
send packing,
chase off
in the sense of separate
Definition
to divide or be divided into component parts
Let's separate into smaller groups.
Synonyms
disperse,
split (up),
scatter,
disband
in the sense of sow
Definition
to scatter or plant (seed) in or on (the ground) so that it may grow
Yesterday the field opposite was sown with maize.
Synonyms
scatter,
plant,
seed,
lodge,
implant,
disseminate,
broadcast,
inseminate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of spot
Definition
to put stains or spots on (something)
a brown shoe spotted with paint
Synonyms
mark,
stain,
dot,
soil,
dirty,
scar,
taint,
tarnish,
blot,
fleck,
spatter,
sully,
speckle,
besmirch,
splodge,
splotch,
mottle,
smirch
in the sense of spread
Definition
to send or be sent out in all directions or to many people
Someone has been spreading rumours about us.
Synonyms
circulate,
publish,
broadcast,
advertise,
distribute,
scatter,
proclaim,
transmit,
make public,
publicize,
propagate,
disseminate,
promulgate,
make known,
blazon,
bruit
in the sense of sprinkle
Definition
to scatter (liquid or powder) in tiny drops over (something)
Cheese can be sprinkled on egg and vegetable dishes.
Synonyms
scatter,
dust,
strew,
pepper,
shower,
spray,
powder,
dredge
in the sense of strew
Definition
to scatter (things) over a surface
By the end, bodies were strewn all around the headquarters building.