scattering
[ skat-er-ing ]
/ ˈskæt ər ɪŋ /
adjective
distributed or occurring here and there at irregular intervals; scattered.
straggling, as an assemblage of parts.
(of votes) cast in small numbers for various candidates.
distributing, dispersing, or separating.
noun
a small, scattered number or quantity.
Physics.
the process in which a wave or beam of particles is diffused or deflected by collisions with particles of the medium that it traverses.
Compare
elastic scattering,
Rayleigh scattering.
Words nearby scattering
scatteration,
scatterbrain,
scatterbrained,
scattered,
scattergood,
scattering,
scattershot,
scattersite housing,
scatty,
scaturient,
scaud
Definition for scattering (2 of 2)
scatter
[ skat-er ]
/ ˈskæt ər /
verb (used with object)
to throw loosely about; distribute at irregular intervals: to scatter seeds.
to separate and drive off in various directions; disperse: to scatter a crowd.
Physics.
- to refract or diffract (light or other electromagnetic radiation) irregularly so as to diffuse in many directions.
- (of a medium) to diffuse or deflect (light or other wave phenomena) by collisions between the wave and particles of the medium.
verb (used without object)
to separate and disperse; go in different directions.
noun
the act of scattering.
something that is scattered.
Origin of scatter
1125–75; Middle English
scatere; compare Dutch
schateren to burst out laughing
SYNONYMS FOR scatter
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.
OTHER WORDS FROM scatter
scat·ter·a·ble, adjective scat·ter·er, noun scat·ter·ing·ly, adverbExample sentences from the Web for scattering
British Dictionary definitions for scattering (1 of 2)
scattering
/ (ˈskætərɪŋ) /
noun
a small amount
physics
the process in which particles, atoms, etc, are deflected as a result of collision
British Dictionary definitions for scattering (2 of 2)
scatter
/ (ˈskætə) /
verb
(tr)
to throw about in various directions; strew
to separate and move or cause to separate and move in various directions; disperse
to deviate or cause to deviate in many directions, as in the diffuse reflection or refraction of light
noun
the act of scattering
a substance or a number of objects scattered about
Derived forms of scatter
scatterable, adjective scatterer, nounWord Origin for scatter
C13: probably a variant of
shatter
Medical definitions for scattering
scatter
[ skăt′ər ]
v.
To cause to separate and go in different directions.
To separate and go in different directions; disperse.
To deflect radiation or particles.
n.
The act of scattering or the condition of being scattered.
Scientific definitions for scattering
scattering
[ skăt′ər-ĭng ]
The spreading of a stream of particles or a beam of rays, as of light, over a range of directions as a result of collisions with other particles. The sky appears blue due to the tendency of air molecules to scatter blue and violet light more than light of other frequencies. The scattering probabilities and patterns of subatomic particles, accelerated by particle accelerators and aimed at a target, is a major component of experimental particle physics. See also diffusion cross section.