Hypertext Webster Gateway: "scatter"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Scatter \Scat"ter\, v. i.
To be dispersed or dissipated; to disperse or separate; as,
clouds scatter after a storm.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Scatter \Scat"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scattered}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Scattering}.] [OE. scateren. See {Shatter}.]
1. To strew about; to sprinkle around; to throw down loosely;
to deposit or place here and there, esp. in an open or
sparse order.
And some are scattered all the floor about.
--Chaucer.
Why should my muse enlarge on Libyan swains, Their
scattered cottages, and ample plains? --Dryden.
Teach the glad hours to scatter, as they fly, Soft
quiet, gentle love, and endless joy. --Prior.
2. To cause to separate in different directions; to reduce
from a close or compact to a loose or broken order; to
dissipate; to disperse.
Scatter and disperse the giddy Goths. --Shak.
3. Hence, to frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow; as, to
scatter hopes, plans, or the like.
Syn: To disperse; dissipate; spread; strew.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
scatter
n 1: a haphazard distribution in all directions [syn: {spread}]
2: the act of scattering [syn: {scattering}, {strewing}]
v 1: to cause to separate and go in different directions, of
crowds, for example; "She waved her hand and scattered
the crows." [syn: {disperse}, {dissipate}, {dispel}, {break
up}]
2: move away from each other; "The crowds dispersed"; "The
children scattered in all directions when the teacher
approached"; [syn: {disperse}, {dissipate}, {spread out}]
3: distribute loosely; "He scattered gun powder under the
wagon." [syn: {sprinkle}, {dot}, {dust}, {disperse}]
4: sow by scattering
5: cause to separate; "break up kidney stones"; "disperse
particles" [syn: {break up}, {disperse}]
6: strew or distribute over an area; "He spread fertilizer over
the lawn"; "scatter cards across the table" [syn: {spread},
{spread out}]
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