Library / English Dictionary

SCATTER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of scattering

Synonyms:

scatter; scattering; strewing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("scatter" is a kind of...):

spread; spreading (act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time)

Derivation:

scatter (distribute loosely)

scatter (move away from each other)

scatter (to cause to separate and go in different directions)

scatter (strew or distribute over an area)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A haphazard distribution in all directions

Synonyms:

scatter; spread

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("scatter" is a kind of...):

dispersion; distribution (the spatial or geographic property of being scattered about over a range, area, or volume)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scatter"):

diffuseness (the spatial property of being spread out over a wide area or through a large volume)

Derivation:

scatter (distribute loosely)

scatter (move away from each other)

scatter (to cause to separate and go in different directions)

scatter (strew or distribute over an area)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to separate

Example:

disperse particles

Synonyms:

break up; disperse; scatter

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "scatter" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "scatter"):

backscatter (scatter (radiation) by the atoms of the medium through which it passes)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Distribute loosely

Example:

He scattered gun powder under the wagon

Synonyms:

disperse; dot; dust; scatter; sprinkle

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "scatter" is one way to...):

discharge (pour forth or release)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "scatter"):

spray (scatter in a mass or jet of droplets)

spray (be discharged in sprays of liquid)

plash; spatter; splash; splatter; splosh; swash (dash a liquid upon or against)

splash; splosh; sprinkle (cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force)

bespangle (dot or sprinkle with sparkling or glittering objects)

aerosolise; aerosolize (disperse as an aerosol)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence example:

They scatter sugar over the cake

Derivation:

scatter (the act of scattering)

scatter (a haphazard distribution in all directions)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Sow by scattering

Example:

scatter seeds

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "scatter" is one way to...):

seed; sow (place (seeds) in or on the ground for future growth)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

scattering (the act of scattering)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Move away from each other

Example:

The children scattered in all directions when the teacher approached

Synonyms:

disperse; dissipate; scatter; spread out

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "scatter" is one way to...):

part; separate; split (go one's own way; move apart)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "scatter"):

aerosolise; aerosolize (become dispersed as an aerosol)

break (scatter or part)

volley (be dispersed in a volley)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

scatter (the act of scattering)

scatter (a haphazard distribution in all directions)

scattering (the act of scattering)

Sense 5

Meaning:

To cause to separate and go in different directions

Example:

She waved her hand and scattered the crowds

Synonyms:

break up; dispel; disperse; dissipate; scatter

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "scatter" is one way to...):

divide; separate (make a division or separation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "scatter"):

disband (cause to break up or cease to function)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

scatter (the act of scattering)

scatter (a haphazard distribution in all directions)

scattering (the act of scattering)

scattering (spreading widely or driving off)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Strew or distribute over an area

Example:

scatter cards across the table

Synonyms:

scatter; spread; spread out

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "scatter" is one way to...):

circulate; distribute; pass around; pass on (cause to be distributed)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "scatter"):

manure; muck (spread manure, as for fertilization)

birdlime; lime (spread birdlime on branches to catch birds)

circumfuse (spread something around something)

distribute (spread throughout a given area)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

scatter (the act of scattering)

scatter (a haphazard distribution in all directions)

scattering (the act of scattering)

Credits

 Context examples: 

We are lost if we scatter.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

After a few minutes, by the time the white men had got over their surprise, the gang scattered.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The haze particles themselves are likely gray or red, but the way they scatter blue light has gotten the attention of the New Horizons science team.

(New Horizons Finds Blue Skies and Water Ice on Pluto, NASA)

Its hills are covered with vines, and its cottages are scattered thickly in the plains.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

The four shots came in rather a scattering volley, but they did the business: one of the enemy actually fell, and the rest, without hesitation, turned and plunged into the trees.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The others had also retired, and my master was sitting alone at the table, with his empty bottle and the scattered cards in front of him.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was then very dark, and the scattered lamps made the darkness greater when we were once outside their individual radius.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

That causes the blue colors in the mixed light coming from the sun to stay closer to sun's part of the sky, compared to the wider scattering of yellow and red colors.

(Sunset in Mars' Gale Crater, NASA)

They scattered far and wide over the country, and it was not till a week later that the last of the survivors gathered together in a lower valley and counted their losses.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

The deposits are scattered across the moon’s dark volcanic plains and are characterized by a mixture of smooth, rounded, shallow mounds next to patches of rough, blocky terrain.

(Evidence for Young Lunar Volcanism, NASA)