English Explanatory Dictionary

scatter

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To (cause to) separate and go in different directions; to disperse.
  2. To distribute loosely as by sprinkling.
  3. To deflect (radiation or particles).
  4. To occur or fall at widely spaced intervals.
  5. To frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow.
  6. To be dispersed upon.
  7. Of a pitcher: to keep down the number of hits or walks.
  8. To leave.
noun
  1. The act of scattering or dispersing.
  2. A collection of dispersed objects.

Pronunciation

/ˈskætə/ skătʹər /ˈskætɚ/ /ˈskæʔɐ/ /ˈskæhɐ/ /ˈskæʔɚ/ /ˈskæhɚ/ en-us-scatter.ogg

Word forms

scatter scatters scattering scattered

Etymology

From Middle English scateren, skateren, also schateren, * probably a variant of shatter, which is imitative; * or from Old English *sceaterian, probably akin to a dialect of Old Norse, possibly ultimately related to Proto-Indo-European *skey- (“to cut, split, shatter”). Compare Middle Dutch scheteren (“to scatter”), Low German schateren, Dutch schateren (“to burst out laughing”); and is apparently remotely akin to Ancient Greek σκεδάννυμι (skedánnumi, “scatter, disperse”). and Tocharian B kät- (“to scatter, sow seeds”). Doublet of shatter.

Derived words

antiscatter bescatter rescatter scatterable scatteration scatter band scatterbrain scatterbrained scatter-brained scatter buffet scatter cushion scatter diagram scatterer scattergood scattergram scattergraph scattergun scatterhoard scatter hoarding scatteringly scatterling scatterometer scatterometric scatterometry scatter-plot scatterplot scatter point scatter rug scattershot scatter site scattersome scatter-story scatter to the four winds scattery squander tropospheric scatter upscatter
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