Nearby Words
adjective
1.
distributed or occurring here and there at irregular intervals; scattered.
2.
straggling, as an assemblage of parts.
3.
(of votes) cast in small numbers for various candidates.
4.
distributing, dispersing, or separating.
noun
5.
a small, scattered number or quantity.
6.
Physics. the process in which a wave or beam of particles is diffused or deflected by collisions with particles of the medium that it traverses.
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Scattering
is always a great word to know.
So is gravitational field. Does it mean:
| the attractive effect of matter on other matter; the region surrounding an astronomical body in which the force of gravitation is strong |
| any two masses attract each other with a force equal to a constant, multiplied by the product of the two masses, divided by the square of the distance between them |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
verb (used with object)
1.
to throw loosely about; distribute at irregular intervals: to scatter seeds.
2.
to separate and drive off in various directions; disperse: to scatter a crowd.
3.
Physics.
a.
to refract or diffract (light or other electromagnetic radiation) irregularly so as to diffuse in many directions.
b.
(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)
4.
to separate and disperse; go in different directions.
Origin:
1125–75; Middle English scatere; compare Dutch schateren to burst out laughing
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.
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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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To scattering
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
scattering  (skāt'ər-ĭng) Pronunciation Key
The spreading of a stream of particles or a beam of rays, as of light, over a range of directions as a result of collisions with other particles. The sky appears blue due to the tendency of air molecules to scatter blue and violet light more than light of other frequencies. The scattering probabilities and patterns of subatomic particles, accelerated by particle accelerators and aimed at a target, is a major component of experimental particle physics. See also diffusion, cross section. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Dynamo Rating For Scattering
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