Scattered

'skætərd

adjectiveBeginnerCommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Distributed or spread over a wide area or over a period of time.

'skætərd

adjectiveneutralBeginner
General

Spread or thrown about in different directions

The artist used scattered brushstrokes to create an impressionistic effect.

💡 Simply: Imagine you accidentally dropped a box of LEGOs. The LEGOs are now spread all over the floor - they're scattered!

👶 For kids: Spread out in different places.

More Examples

2

The scattered evidence made it difficult to solve the mystery.

3

The scattered debris from the explosion covered a large area.

How It's Used

General Usage

"The scattered toys lay across the floor."

Military

"The scattered troops regrouped after the ambush."

Geography

"The scattered islands dotted the ocean."

2

To disperse or spread something in different directions.

'skætərd

verb (past participle)neutralmedium
General

To cause something to be spread over a wide area

The rebels scattered the protesters to break up the demonstration.

💡 Simply: Imagine you are throwing confetti at a party. You are scattering it around the room.

👶 For kids: To throw or spread things around.

More Examples

2

The wind scattered the leaves across the yard.

3

He scattered the ashes of his loved one over the lake.

How It's Used

Agriculture

"The farmer scattered the seeds across the field."

Information Technology

"The company scattered the news release across multiple media outlets."

Everyday life

"She scattered the crumbs for the birds in her backyard."

Tip:Imagine throwing seeds from a packet, spreading them wide – you're scattering them!

Idioms & expressions

scatter brain

A person who is forgetful and disorganized; someone who can't focus.

"My sister is a bit of a scatterbrain; she often forgets where she puts things."

From Middle English *scatteren*, from Old English *scaterian* ('to scatter, disperse, shed'), from Proto-Germanic *skaitaną* ('to shoot, throw').

The word "scattered" has been used in English for centuries to describe the act of dispersing something or the state of being dispersed. It appears frequently in literature describing battles, natural events, and everyday scenes.

Memory tip

Think of a handful of seeds thrown across a field – scattered everywhere!

scateredscaterdskattered

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written