scatter

scatter
—scatterable, adj. —scatterer, n. —scatteringly, adv.
/skat"euhr/, v.t.
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.
v.i.
4. to separate and disperse; go in different directions.
n.
5. the act of scattering.
6. something that is scattered.
[1125-75; ME scatere; cf. D schateren to burst out laughing]
Syn. 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.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую
Synonyms:
, , / , / , , , / , , , / , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • scatter — 1 Scatter, disperse, dissipate, dispel can mean to cause a group, mass, or assemblage to separate or break up. Scatter may imply the use or operation of force which drives the persons or things in different directions {the hurricane scattered the …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Scatter — Scat ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scattered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scattering}.] [OE. scateren. See {Shatter}.] 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. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scatter — ● scatter nom masculin (anglais to scatter, disperser) Dispersion relative des résultats partiels obtenus par un sujet à une batterie de tests. scatter [skatɛʀ] n. m. ÉTYM. 1968; mot angl., de to scatter « éparpiller, disperser ». ❖ ♦ Anglic.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • scatter — scat‧ter [ˈskætə ǁ ər] noun [uncountable] MARKETING used to talk about advertising that is spread over a wide range of television or radio programmes according to what is available, rather than done by selecting particular programmes to sponsor:… …   Financial and business terms

  • scatter — [skat′ər] vt. [ME skateren, ult. < IE * sked , to split, disperse < base * sek , to cut > L secare] 1. a) to throw here and there or strew loosely; sprinkle b) to sprinkle over (with) something 2. to separate and drive in many… …   English World dictionary

  • Scatter — Scat ter, v. i. To be dispersed or dissipated; to disperse or separate; as, clouds scatter after a storm. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scatter — index break (fracture), deploy, diffuse, disband, disburse (distribute), dislocate, disorganize …   Law dictionary

  • scatter — (v.) mid 12c., possibly a northern English variant of M.E. schateren (see SHATTER (Cf. shatter)), reflecting Norse influence. Related: Scattered; scattering. Scattershot (adj.) is attested from 1961; figurative use of term for a kind of gun… …   Etymology dictionary

  • scatter — [v] strew, disperse besprinkle, broadcast, cast, derange, diffuse, disband, discard, disject, dispel, disseminate, dissipate, distribute, disunite, diverge, divide, expend, fling, intersperse, litter, migrate, part, pour, put to flight*, run away …   New thesaurus

  • scatter — ► VERB 1) throw in various random directions. 2) separate and move off in different directions. 3) (be scattered) occur or be found at various places rather than all together. 4) Physics deflect or diffuse (electromagnetic radiation or particles) …   English terms dictionary

  • Scatter — In ordinary English, to scatter is to distribute randomly. Scatter also has the following meanings: *In physics, scattering is the study of collisions, especially of waves and particles (synonymous in quantum mechanics). In elastic scattering the …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”