SCATTER

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does scatter mean? 

• SCATTER (noun)
  The noun SCATTER has 2 senses:

1. a haphazard distribution in all directions

2. the act of scattering

  Familiarity information: SCATTER used as a noun is rare.

• SCATTER (verb)
  The verb SCATTER has 6 senses:

1. to cause to separate and go in different directions

2. move away from each other

3. distribute loosely

4. sow by scattering

5. cause to separate

6. strew or distribute over an area

  Familiarity information: SCATTER used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SCATTER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A haphazard distribution in all directions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

scatter; spread

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of scattering

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

scatter; scattering; strewing

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

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

Derivation:

scatter (move away from each other)

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

scatter (strew or distribute over an area)

scatter (distribute loosely)

• SCATTER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they scatter    ... he / she / it scatters   
Past simple: scattered   
Past participle: scattered   
-ing form: scattering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

To cause to separate and go in different directions

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

break up; dispel; disperse; dissipate; scatter

Context example:

She waved her hand and scattered the crowds

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 2

Meaning:

Move away from each other

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

disperse; dissipate; scatter; spread out

Context example:

The children scattered in all directions when the teacher approached

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 3

Meaning:

Distribute loosely

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

disperse; dot; dust; scatter; sprinkle

Context example:

He scattered gun powder under the wagon

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 4

Meaning:

Sow by scattering

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

scatter seeds

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 5

Meaning:

Cause to separate

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

break up; disperse; scatter

Context example:

disperse particles

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 6

Meaning:

Strew or distribute over an area

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

scatter; spread; spread out

Context example:

scatter cards across the table

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)

 Context examples 

Scatter or distribute over a large area or range.

(Disseminate, NCI Dictionary)

How could I be so wicked? said Jo, half aloud, as she leaned over her sister softly stroking the wet hair scattered on the pillow.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

They are similar in appearance to Langhans giant cells (GIANT CELLS, LANGHANS), but foreign-body giant cells have more abundant chromatin and their nuclei are scattered in an irregular pattern in the cytoplasm.

(Foreign Body Giant Cell, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma in which at least 75% of the tumor nodules contain scattered Reed-Sternberg cells.

(Grade 1 Nodular Sclerosis Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma, NCI Thesaurus)

Dead! Ay, dead as the stones on which her brains and blood were scattered.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Light-scattering spectroscopy can diagnose early epithelial cancers based on the scattering of light through their enlarged nuclei.

(Light-Scattering Spectroscopy, NCI Thesaurus)

It is characterized by the presence of histiocytes, spindle shaped fibrocytic cells, scattered lymphocytes, and pericytoma-like vessels in a monomorphic storiform pattern.

(Deep Benign Fibrous Histiocytoma, NCI Thesaurus)

Activated by cold, the small amounts of brown fat scattered around your body can burn calories to warm you up.

(Giving Brown Fat A Green Light, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

You look at these scattered houses, and you are impressed by their beauty.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It lay scattered, in splintered shards, upon the grass.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)