v. t. | 1. | To strew about; to sprinkle around; to throw down loosely; to deposit or place here and there, esp. in an open or sparse order. |
2. | To cause to separate in different directions; to reduce from a close or compact to a loose or broken order; to dissipate; to disperse. | |
3. | Hence, to frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow; | |
v. i. | 1. | To be dispersed or dissipated; to disperse or separate; |
Noun | 1. | scatter - a haphazard distribution in all directions Synonyms: spread |
2. | scatter - the act of scattering Synonyms: strewing, scattering | |
Verb | 1. | scatter - to cause to separate and go in different directions; "She waved her hand and scattered the crowds" |
2. | scatter - move away from each other; "The crowds dispersed"; "The children scattered in all directions when the teacher approached"; | |
3. | scatter - distribute loosely; "He scattered gun powder under the wagon" | |
4. | scatter - sow by scattering; "scatter seeds" | |
5. | scatter - cause to separate; "break up kidney stones"; "disperse particles" | |
6. | scatter - strew or distribute over an area; "He spread fertilizer over the lawn"; "scatter cards across the table" Synonyms: spread out, spread |