litter

[ lit-er ]

/ ˈlɪt ər /

noun

objects strewn or scattered about; scattered rubbish.

a condition of disorder or untidiness: We were appalled at the litter of the room.

a number of young brought forth by a multiparous animal at one birth: a litter of six kittens.

a framework of cloth stretched between two parallel bars, for the transportation of a sick or wounded person; stretcher.

a vehicle carried by people or animals, consisting of a bed or couch, often covered and curtained, suspended between shafts.

straw, hay, or the like, used as bedding for animals or as protection for plants.

the layer of slightly decomposed organic material on the surface of the floor of the forest.

cat litter.

verb (used with object)

to strew (a place) with scattered objects, rubbish, etc.: to be fined for littering the sidewalk.

to scatter (objects) in disorder: They littered their toys from one end of the playroom to the other.

to be strewn about (a place) in disorder (often followed by up): Bits of paper littered the floor.

to give birth to (young), as a multiparous animal.

to supply (an animal) with litter for a bed.

to use (straw, hay, etc.) for litter.

to cover (a floor or other area) with straw, hay, etc., for litter.

verb (used without object)

to give birth to a litter: The cat had littered in the closet.

to strew objects about: If you litter, you may be fined.

Idioms for litter

pick of the litter,

the best or choicest of the animals, especially puppies, in a litter.
the best of any class, group, or available selection.

Origin of litter

1250–1300; Middle English litere bed, litter < Anglo-French; Old French litiere < Medieval Latin lectāria, equivalent to Latin lect(us) bed + -āria feminine of -ārius -er²

SYNONYMS FOR litter

2 clutter.

9 mess (up).

10 disarrange, derange.

synonym study for litter

3. See brood.

OTHER WORDS FROM litter

lit·ter·er, noun an·ti·lit·ter, adjective an·ti·lit·ter·ing, adjective de-lit·ter, verb (used with object)

un·lit·tered, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH litter

letter lighter liter litter

Words nearby litter

litt.m., littb, littd, litten, litten's phenomenon, litter, litter lout, litterae humaniores, litteratim, litterbag, litterbug

British Dictionary definitions for anti-litter

litter

/ (ˈlɪtə) /

noun

small refuse or waste materials carelessly dropped, esp in public places
(as modifier)litter bin

a disordered or untidy condition or a collection of objects in this condition

a group of offspring produced at one birth by a mammal such as a sow

a layer of partly decomposed leaves, twigs, etc, on the ground in a wood or forest

straw, hay, or similar material used as bedding, protection, etc, by animals or plants

See cat litter

a means of conveying people, esp sick or wounded people, consisting of a light bed or seat held between parallel sticks

verb

to make (a place) untidy by strewing (refuse)

to scatter (objects, etc) about or (of objects) to lie around or upon (anything) in an untidy fashion

(of pigs, cats, etc) to give birth to (offspring)

(tr) to provide (an animal or plant) with straw or hay for bedding, protection, etc

Word Origin for litter

C13 (in the sense: bed): via Anglo-French, ultimately from Latin lectus bed

Medical definitions for anti-litter

litter

[ lĭt′ər ]

n.

A flat supporting framework, such as a piece of canvas stretched between parallel shafts, for carrying a disabled or dead person; a stretcher.

The offspring produced at one birth by a multiparous mammal. brood

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

litter

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Idioms for litter

Origin of litter

SYNONYMS FOR litter

synonym study for litter

OTHER WORDS FROM litter

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH litter

Words nearby litter

British Dictionary definitions for anti-litter

noun

verb

Word Origin for litter

Medical definitions for anti-litter

n.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

litter

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Idioms for litter

Origin of litter

SYNONYMS FOR litter

synonym study for litter

OTHER WORDS FROM litter

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH litter

Words nearby litter

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for anti-litter

noun

verb

Word Origin for litter

Medical definitions for anti-litter

n.

British Dictionary definitions for anti-litter