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[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.
  1. to refract or diffract (light or other electromagnetic radiation) irregularly so as to diffuse in many directions.
  2. (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.
the act of scattering.
something that is scattered.
1125-75; Middle English scatere; compare Dutch schateren to burst out laughing
Related forms
scatterable, adjective
scatterer, noun
scatteringly, adverb
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. Unabridged
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Examples from the web for scatterer
  • The bone scatterer is the fifth episode of the television series miracles.
British Dictionary definitions for scatterer


(transitive) to throw about in various directions; strew
to separate and move or cause to separate and move in various directions; disperse
the act of scattering
a substance or a number of objects scattered about
Derived Forms
scatterable, adjective
scatterer, noun
Word Origin
C13: probably a variant of shatter
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for scatterer




Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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scatterer in Medicine

scatter scat·ter (skāt'ər)
v. scat·tered, scat·ter·ing, scat·ters

  1. To cause to separate and go in different directions.

  2. To separate and go in different directions; disperse.

  3. To deflect radiation or particles.

The act of scattering or the condition of being scattered.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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