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scatter

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verb scat·ter \ˈska-tər\

Definition of scatter

  1. transitive verb

  2. 1a :  to cause to separate widelyb :  to cause to vanish

  3. 2 archaic :  to fling away heedlessly :  squander

  4. 3 :  to distribute irregularly

  5. 4 :  to sow by casting in all directions :  strew

  6. 5a :  to reflect irregularly and diffuselyb :  to cause (a beam of radiation) to diffuse or disperse

  7. 6 :  to divide into ineffectual small portions

  8. intransitive verb

  9. 1 :  to separate and go in various directions :  disperse

  10. 2 :  to occur or fall irregularly or at random

scatterer

play \-tər-ər\ noun

See scatter defined for English-language learners

See scatter defined for kids

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Examples of scatter in a Sentence

  1. The wind scattered the pile of leaves.

  2. The marbles scattered across the floor.

  3. She scattered the books on the table.

  4. He scatters his toys all around the house.

Origin and Etymology of scatter

Middle English scateren, schateren to disperse, break up, destroy; akin to Middle Dutch schaderen to scatter


First Known Use: 14th century

scatter Synonyms

Synonyms
clear out, disband, dispel, disperse, dissipate, squander
Antonyms
assemble, cluster, collect, concentrate, congregate, gather, ingather
Related Words
break up, isolate, part, segregate, separate, split (up); diffuse, disseminate, diverge, spread
Near Antonyms
agglutinate, conglomerate; unify, unite

Synonym Discussion of scatter

scatter, disperse, dissipate, dispel mean to cause to separate or break up. scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions. the bowling ball scattered the pins disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group. police dispersed the crowd dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance. the fog was dissipated by the morning sun dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering. an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt
2

scatter

noun scat·ter

Definition of scatter

  1. 1 :  the act of scattering

  2. 2 :  a small quantity or number irregularly distributed or strewn about :  scattering

  3. 3 :  the state or extent of being scattered; especially :  dispersion

See scatter defined for English-language learners

Examples of scatter in a Sentence

  1. played before only a scatter of spectators in that huge stadium

1642

First Known Use of scatter

1642

scatter Synonyms

Synonyms
couple, handful, few, scattering, smatter, smattering, sprinkle, sprinkling
Antonyms
army, crowd, flock, gazillion, horde, host, jillion, kazillion, legion, loads, many, mountain, multitude, oodles, scads, thousands, zillion
Related Words
minority; atom, crumb, fragment, grain, iota, jot, modicum, molecule, particle, scrap, shred, tittle, whit
Near Antonyms
majority, most; abundance, excess, plenty, surplus; deal, gobs, heap, lot, mass, much, peck, pile, plenitude, plenty, pot, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, slather, slew, stack, wad, wealth

Phrases Related to SCATTER

Related Phrases

SCATTER Defined for English Language Learners

scatter

play
verb

Definition of scatter for English Language Learners

  • : to cause (things or people) to separate and go in different directions

  • : to separate and go in different directions

  • : to place or leave (things) in different places

scatter

noun

Definition of scatter for English Language Learners

  • : a small number or group of things placed or found apart from each other

SCATTER Defined for Kids

scatter

play
verb scat·ter \ˈska-tər\

Definition of scatter for Students

scattered

;

scattering

  1. 1 :  to toss, sow, or place here and there He scattered his toys all around the house.

  2. 2 :  to separate or cause to separate and go in different ways The crowd suddenly scattered.

Medical Dictionary

1

scatter

play
transitive verb scat·ter \ˈskat-ər\

Medical Definition of scatter

  1. :  to cause (a beam of radiation) to diffuse or disperse

2

scatter

noun scat·ter

Medical Definition of scatter

  1. 1:  the act of scattering

  2. 2:  the state or extent of being scattered; especially :  scattering

Learn More about scatter

  1. See words that rhyme with scatter Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for scatter Spanish Central: Translation of scatter Nglish: Translation of scatter for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of scatter for Arabic speakers

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Examples: scatter in a Sentence
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