scatter

Formsscatters, scattering, scattered

Pluralscatters

1. 1
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   To break up and move away in many different directions.

   Like a group of birds flying off in all directions when a cat appears.

   The loud noise made the birds scatter into the trees.

   Police told the crowd to scatter before things got worse.

   Similardisperse, spread, separate, dissipate

   Oppositegather, assemble, collect, congregate

   Note
2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To drop or throw small things here and there over an area.

   Like sprinkling salt over your food.

   She scattered seeds across the garden bed.

   Scatter some cheese over the top before baking.

   Similarsprinkle, strew, spread, sow, broadcast

   Oppositegather, collect

   Note
3. 3
   verbintransitive

   To happen or appear spread out, with big gaps in between.

   Like a few stars in the sky, spread far apart from each other.

   A few small towns scatter along the empty highway.

   Showers scattered across the region throughout the afternoon.

   Similarstraggle, spread, sprawl

   Oppositecluster

4. 4
   nounusually singular

   The sudden moving apart of things or people in many directions.

   Like the way marbles roll everywhere when you spill the box.

   The scatter of the flock happened the moment the hawk appeared.

   A loud bang caused the quick scatter of the pigeons.

   Similardispersal, dispersion, flight

   Oppositegathering, convergence

5. 5
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A group of things spread out loosely over an area.

   Like confetti lying spread out on the floor after a party.

   A scatter of toys lay across the living room floor.

   We saw a scatter of houses dotting the hillside.

   Similarsprinkling, smattering, spread, litter, clutter

   Oppositecluster, concentration

   Note
6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To make light, heat, or tiny particles bounce off in different directions.

   Like light bouncing off in all directions when it hits fog.

   Dust in the air can scatter sunlight.

   The thick fog scattered the car's headlights.

   Similardiffuse, deflect, disperse

   Oppositefocus

   Note
7. 7
   verbslangUSintransitive

   To go away, often quickly.

   Like running off fast when someone shouts that they're coming.

   When the teacher arrived, the kids told each other to scatter.

   Come on, let's scatter before the rain starts.

   Similarscram, split, scoot, skedaddle, leave

   Note
8. 8
   verbtransitive

   To be spread out over a surface, covering it here and there.

   Like freckles spread across someone's face.

   Bright wildflowers scatter the hillside in spring.

   Tiny islands scattered the calm sea.

   Similardot, stud, strew, litter, pepper

   Note
9. 9
   verbtransitive

   In baseball, to allow only a few hits, spread out so the other team rarely scores.

   Like spacing out small problems so they never pile up at once.

   The pitcher scattered five hits over nine innings.

   He can scatter a handful of hits and still win the game.

   Note
10. 10
    verbtransitive

    To ruin someone's plans or hopes and defeat them completely.

    Like a strong wind blowing apart a pile of papers you spent hours sorting.

    The sudden storm scattered all their travel plans.

    One bad review can scatter a writer's confidence.

    Similarrout, shatter, dash, break, thwart

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