ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Scattering', Synonyms of 'Scattering' & More on 'Scattering'

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

scattering
    n 1: a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly; "the
         first scatterings of green"; "a sprinkling of grey at his
         temples" [syn: scattering, sprinkling]
    2: the physical process in which particles are deflected
       haphazardly as a result of collisions
    3: a light shower that falls in some locations and not others
       nearby [syn: scattering, sprinkle, sprinkling]
    4: spreading widely or driving off [syn: dispersion,
       scattering]
    5: the act of scattering [syn: scatter, scattering,
       strewing]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Scattering \Scat"ter*ing\, n.
   Act of strewing about; something scattered. --South.
   [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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 Webster]

            And some are scattered all the floor about.
                                                  --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

            Why should my muse enlarge on Libyan swains,
            Their scattered cottages, and ample plains?
                                                  --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

            Teach the glad hours to scatter, as they fly,
            Soft quiet, gentle love, and endless joy. --Prior.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Scatter and disperse the giddy Goths. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Hence, to frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow; as, to
      scatter hopes, plans, or the like.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: To disperse; dissipate; spread; strew.
        [1913 Webster]

4. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Scattering \Scat"ter*ing\, a.
   Going or falling in various directions; not united or
   aggregated; divided among many; as, scattering votes.
   [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for scattering:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

a few, aloofness, anarchy, attenuation, attenuative, bit, breakup, broadcast, broadcasting, chaos, circumfusion, confusion, crack-up, diffraction, diffractional, diffractive, diffusion, diffusive, dilution, discontinuity, discreteness, disintegration, disjunction, dislocation, disorder, dispensation, dispersal, dispersion, dispersive, disruption, dissemination, disseminative, dissipation, dissipative, dissolution, distribution, distributive, divergence, emanation, entropy, evaporation, exfoliation, expansion, few, fragmentation, handful, hint, incoherence, inconsistency, limited number, nonadhesion, noncohesion, only a few, peppering, piddling few, piddling number, propagation, publication, radiance, radiation, radius, ray, revolution, scaling, scatterment, separateness, shattering, shotgun pattern, small number, smatter, smattering, soupcon, sowing, spatter, spattering, splay, spoke, spread, spreading, sprinkling, strewing, suggestion, too few, trickle, trifle, unadherence, unadhesiveness, untenacity, volatilization

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