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scatter

[skat-er]

Example Sentences Origin

verb (used with object)

to throw loosely about; distribute at irregular intervals: to scatter seeds.

to separate and drive off in various directions; disperse: to scatter a crowd.

Physics.

to refract or diffract (light or other electromagnetic radiation) irregularly so as to diffuse in many directions.

(of a medium) to diffuse or deflect (light or other wave phenomena) by collisions between the wave and particles of the medium.

verb (used without object)

to separate and disperse; go in different directions.

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Scatter is always a great word to know.

So is energy level. Does it mean:

a quantized state in which matter may exist, having constant energy and separated from others in the series by finite quantities of energy

light waves or particles, the band of colors produced when sunlight passes through a prism, comprising red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet

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noun

the act of scattering.

something that is scattered.

Origin:
1125–75; Middle English scatere; compare Dutch schateren to burst out laughing

Related forms

scat·ter·a·ble, adjective

scat·ter·er, noun

scat·ter·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms
1. broadcast. See sprinkle. 2. Scatter, dispel, disperse, dissipate imply separating and driving something away so that its original form disappears. To scatter is to separate something tangible into parts at random, and drive these in different directions: The wind scattered leaves all over the lawn. To dispel is to drive away or scatter usually intangible things so that they vanish or cease to exist: Photographs of the race dispelled all doubts as to which horse won. To disperse is usually to cause a compact or organized tangible body to separate or scatter in different directions, to be reassembled if desired: Tear gas dispersed the mob. To dissipate is usually to scatter by dissolving or reducing to small atoms or parts that cannot be brought together again: He dissipated his money and his energy in useless activities.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To scatter

Example Sentences

They are holding more time back than is typical to sell on a short-term basis, in what is known as the scatter market.

But it'll be damned near impossible to convene the faculty once they scatter to get away from the students.

Those who continue to plough, weed and scatter seeds face jail terms of up to two years.

EXPAND

They are holding more time back than is typical to sell on a short-term basis, in what is known as the scatter market.

But it'll be damned near impossible to convene the faculty once they scatter to get away from the students.

Those who continue to plough, weed and scatter seeds face jail terms of up to two years.

When alarmed, they scatter in different directions, hiding behind clumps of vegetation.

The more layers a material has, he says, the stronger it can scatter light and the brighter its color can.

Scatter them throughout your garden for a unique look.

They easily pick up the scatter patterns of drugs and explosives and body parts,” notes one helpful description.

We were about to graduate from art school and scatter in search of our fate.

And worse yet, they scatter when the idea of bringing oxygen to them is broached.

Metal atoms such as lead and copper scatter or absorb the beams in a characteristic manner.

Smooth features such as solar panels tend to scatter radar beams, leaving empty regions on the readout.

Tanning oil smooths the surface, so fewer rays scatter and more penetrate, speeding sunburn or tanning.

Squeeze the topping into shaggy chunks and scatter over the apricots.

If you do get caught, scatter and meet up at some pre-determined rendezvous.

Scatter parsley over cod, and scatter with toasted almonds.

Make a lot of wild gestures so that you scatter ashes over students sitting in the front row.

If that changes they will see their customers scatter to other carriers as fast as news can travel on the internet.

But the much smaller droplets in fog scatter light more, producing almost white bows sometimes tinged with faint color.

Perfect day, excellent sailor and he left to scatter his mother's ashes.

Carefully pour hot saffron liquid over rice and scatter chorizo on top.

Nineteen suspects scatter across the city, and the murder weapon is dropped along the way.

Add the white wine and scatter the mushrooms around the fillets.

Wolong is building new quarters farther away to scatter the captives more widely.

At low resolution they scatter essentially as one atom.

Scatter sliced plums, preferably red-skinned, on top and fold dough.

Infrared light waves are longer and scatter less than visible light, allowing scientists to probe dust-shrouded areas of space.

Scatter the frying pepper, chili pepper and carrot slices in a baking dish.

These scanners, in order to detect different types of materials, detect the direction in which the materials scatter the xrays.

When you shake it, little vinegar droplets scatter through the oil.

Scatter vivid furnishings, flowers, and pots around the garden as focal points.

Sulfur in the ash reacted with atmospheric ozone to scatter sunlight, causing vivid red sunsets around the world.

Place the fish fillets on top, then scatter the potato and tomato slices over.

But dark energy will scatter both the quasars and gas beyond our observational horizon.

Scatter controlled-release fertilizer over the soil.

The walls glint gold in the late afternoon, as waves or particles of light scatter off the ancient bricks.

Scatter them in a terra-cotta tagine or in a sauté pan with a cover, then lay the chicken pieces on top.

When the ions scatter electrons, it causes electrical resistance in metals.

Scatter snipped nori and toasted sesame seeds over steamed white or brown rice.

The guests stand as he exits the dining room, then scatter homeward.

Gently pour remaining hibiscus liquid into the mold, and scatter remaining banana and star fruit slices over the top.

Being electrically neutral, the atoms were less prone to scatter photons.

Scatter the food above plant roots, work into soil, and water well.

Bar charts and scatter plots make it easier to compare numeric values.

Some companies put down more money in the upfront market this spring to guard against high scatter prices later.

Chaos is also found when electrons scatter from small molecules.

Wildflowers scatter the valley floor and trails wind up to the ridgeline.

Then they scatter to start producing the actual animation.

Pyrotechnics are used to scatter blackbirds for bird control, though only during the day, given the birds' poor vision.

Normal waves scatter efficiently, so they disappear quickly.

Scatter fertilizer in the trenches, cover with soil, and water.

Scatter the cheese on the dough to within an inch of the edge.

If the virus is present, the solution will scatter light in a measureable pattern.

Flip pears over to their curved side and scatter with thyme sprigs if using.

Bamboo cannons scatter the dragonflies hovering above the rice terraces.

Scatter butter cubes across top and pulse again until mixture is crumbly and beginning to come together.

Pour one and one-half cups of water around the lamb and scatter the onions and celery all around.

Scatter ricotta on eggs and drizzle with more pesto if desired.

Scatter tomatoes over olives, then sprinkle onions on.

Scatter them in the pan around the chicken, so they're in a single layer.

Scatter onions and thyme over fillets and drizzle with lemon oil.

Scatter the onion in a large dry skillet over high heat.

The police fired plastic bullets in an attempt to scatter the crowds, who threw gasoline bombs and stones.

Top each portion with a poached egg, scatter nuts and cheese over them, and serve.

Home cooks can scatter the seeds on almost any delicate white-fleshed fish.

Scatter the nectarine slices and juice on top of the batter without stirring.

The spots that are not sold in the upfront market are held back to sell during the season in what is called the scatter market.

Scatter the almonds on a baking sheet and place in the oven.

Scatter cubes in one layer in baking sheet and place in oven.

Children arrive at the camp by bus each morning, then scatter in different directions for various activities.

Some are arranged in symmetrical patterns, others scatter across the paper support and out onto the frame.

He got a kick out of watching buyers and sellers scatter in all directions.

Pour nectarines into baking dish or ramekins, scatter blackberries on top and sprinkle with the processed mixture.

Scatter the remaining bread crumbs on a flat surface.

Spoon the remaining sliced strawberries into the soup and scatter the mint leaves on top.

Scatter pine nuts, sprinkle with sea salt and garnish each plate with a sprig of tarragon.

COLLAPSE

Collins

World English Dictionary

scatter (ˈskætə)

—vb
1.	(tr) 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

—n
4.	the act of scattering
5.	a substance or a number of objects scattered about

[C13: probably a variant of shatter]

'scatterable

—*adj*

'scatterer

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

scatter

1154, possibly a northern Eng. variant of M.E. schateren (see shatter), reflecting Norse influence. Scatterbrain is first recorded 1790. Scattershot (adj.) is attested from 1961, fig. use of term for a kind of gun charge meant to broadcast the pellets when fired.

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

scatter scat·ter (skāt'ər)
v. scat·tered, scat·ter·ing, scat·ters

To cause to separate and go in different directions.
To separate and go in different directions; disperse.
To deflect radiation or particles.

n.
The act of scattering or the condition of being scattered.

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"Let us not only scatter benefits, but even strew flowers for our fellow-travellers, in the rugged ways of this wretched world."

-Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, 4th Earl

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