scattering
Americanadjective
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distributed or occurring here and there at irregular intervals; scattered.
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straggling, as an assemblage of parts.
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(of votes) cast in small numbers for various candidates.
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distributing, dispersing, or separating.
noun
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a small, scattered number or quantity.
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Physics. the process in which a wave or beam of particles is diffused or deflected by collisions with particles of the medium that it traverses.
noun
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a small amount
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physics the process in which particles, atoms, etc, are deflected as a result of collision
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The spreading of a stream of particles or a beam of rays, as of light, over a range of directions as a result of collisions with other particles. The sky appears blue due to the tendency of air molecules to scatter blue and violet light more than light of other frequencies. The scattering probabilities and patterns of subatomic particles, accelerated by particle accelerators and aimed at a target, is a major component of experimental particle physics.
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See also diffusion cross section
Etymology
Origin of scattering
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; scatter, -ing 2, -ing 1
Vocabulary lists containing scattering
Physics - Introductory
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Physics - Middle School
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Physics - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Labour voters appear to be scattering all over the place, left and right.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch described the scattering of tiny craters across the daytime side proudly reflecting sunlight, like pinpricks in a lampshade.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Instead, finish the top with a scattering of turbinado sugar for crunch and a pinch of flaky salt for sparkle.
From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026
This disturbance relaxes the usual Raman selection rules and produces distinctive low-frequency Raman scattering.
From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026
He pointed to a scattering of cones at the base of a pine tree, each one gnawed to the core like an apple.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
