scatter

scat•ter

[[t]ˈskæt ər[/t]] v. t.

1) to throw loosely about:

to scatter seeds[/ex]

2) to cause to disperse:

to scatter a crowd[/ex]

3) phs to diffuse or deflect (a wave or beam of radiation) by collision with particles of the medium it traverses

4) to separate and disperse

5) the act of scattering

6) something that is scattered

•

Etymology: 1125–75; ME scateren; cf. MD, D schateren to burst out laughing scat′ter•a•ble, adj. scat`ter•a′tion, n. scat′ter•er, n. syn: 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 usu. intangible things so that they vanish: Your explanation has dispelled my doubts. To disperse is usu. 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 usu. to scatter by dissolving or reducing to small atoms or parts that cannot be reunited: He dissipated his money and his energy in useless activities.