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Definition of scattering

scattering

/ˈskæt.ɚ.ɪŋ/
scat · ter · ing
Adverb:scatteringly
•
Plural:scatterings
•
Adjective:scattered
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scattering Lexical Profile

scattering Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, dispersed number or amount of things or people spread out randomly over an area.

Example

"Only a small scattering of spectators braved the rain to watch the afternoon match."

2

The act or process of dispersing, throwing, or driving things in various directions.

Example

"The wind plays a vital ecological role in the scattering of dandelion seeds across the meadow."

3

The physical process in which electromagnetic radiation or subatomic particles are deflected or diffused in multiple directions as a result of collisions or interactions with matter.

Example

"The blue color of the daytime sky is caused by the Rayleigh scattering of sunlight in the Earth's atmosphere."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for scattering

• Nearby Words

scattered
scattergraph
scattergun
scattering
scatterplot
scattershot
scatty

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English as the verbal noun of 'scatter' (originally 'schateren'), which is of Germanic origin and closely related to 'shatter'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Scattering. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/scattering
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