litter
objects strewn or scattered about; scattered rubbish.
a condition of disorder or untidiness: We were appalled at the litter of the room.
a number of young brought forth by a multiparous animal at one birth: a litter of six kittens.
a framework of cloth stretched between two parallel bars, for the transportation of a sick or wounded person; stretcher.
a vehicle carried by people or animals, consisting of a bed or couch, often covered and curtained, suspended between shafts.
straw, hay, or the like, used as bedding for animals or as protection for plants.
the layer of slightly decomposed organic material on the surface of the floor of the forest.
to strew (a place) with scattered objects, rubbish, etc.: to be fined for littering the sidewalk.
to scatter (objects) in disorder: They littered their toys from one end of the playroom to the other.
to be strewn about (a place) in disorder (often followed by up): Bits of paper littered the floor.
to give birth to (young), as a multiparous animal.
to supply (an animal) with litter for a bed.
to use (straw, hay, etc.) for litter.
to cover (a floor or other area) with straw, hay, etc., for litter.
to give birth to a litter: The cat had littered in the closet.
to strew objects about: If you litter, you may be fined.
Idioms about litter
pick of the litter,
the best or choicest of the animals, especially puppies, in a litter.
the best of any class, group, or available selection.
Origin of litter
1synonym study For litter
Other words for litter
2 | clutter |
9 | mess (up) |
10 | disarrange, derange |
Other words from litter
- lit·ter·er, noun
- an·ti·lit·ter, adjective
- an·ti·lit·ter·ing, adjective
- de-litter, verb (used with object)
- un·lit·tered, adjective
Words that may be confused with litter
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use litter in a sentence
Scientists worry most about the worms’ effects on “leaf litter.”
Jumping ‘snake worms’ are invading U.S. forests | Megan Sever | November 9, 2020 | Science News For StudentsIt turned out it had contained not just discarded radioactive material but clay-based organic cat litter.
Finding homes for the waste that will (probably) outlive humanity | Katie McLean | October 21, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewA surge in pet adoptions is helping its cat litter business.
How Clorox’s new CEO plans to turn disinfectant wipes into future wins | Phil Wahba | October 21, 2020 | FortuneReports of litter and overflowing trash bins on busy public lands have increased alongside the visitorship, says Lawhon.
National Parks are logging record crowds. Here’s how to visit safely. | Ula Chrobak | October 15, 2020 | Popular-ScienceI’m concerned about the carbon footprint of cruises, I’m concerned about people dropping litter, I’m concerned about people getting too close to the wildlife.
The Greening of Antarctica - Issue 90: Something Green | Marissa Grunes | October 7, 2020 | Nautilus
Littering the living room floor were old sports pages and letters and newspaper clippings.
Football Great Bob Suffridge Wanders Through the End Zone of Life | Paul Hemphill | September 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNo littering,” “no smoking,” “no cooking,” “no camping,” “no dogs,” “no glass containers,” “no alcohol,” “no bonfires.
While they were found guilty for only littering, witness testimony included examples of healthy animals being euthanized.
PETA Gone Wild: Flour Bombing Kim Kardashian, Accusing HBO of “Murder” | Tricia Romano | April 2, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTThe always-adaptive Taliban forced Americans to rely more on helicopters by littering Afghan roads with IEDs.
By "blow-out," Chub meant a lot of white quartz that was littering the ground in every direction.
Motor Matt's Daring, or, True to His Friends | Stanley R. MatthewsI saw a parcel of black jags of paper littering the place, and asked what had been going on?
Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10) | Maria EdgeworthThat it had not been intentionally knocked down was probable, else the clay would not have been left littering the window sill.
He had a grand time, revelling with pen and pad and littering the floor with inked sheets unnumbered and still wet.
When Winter Comes to Main Street | Grant Martin OvertonWriting tools and desk he had already collected; there were plenty of these littering the building in every corner.
"Unto Caesar" | Baroness Emmuska Orczy
British Dictionary definitions for litter
/ (ˈlɪtə) /
small refuse or waste materials carelessly dropped, esp in public places
(as modifier): litter bin
a disordered or untidy condition or a collection of objects in this condition
a group of offspring produced at one birth by a mammal such as a sow
a layer of partly decomposed leaves, twigs, etc, on the ground in a wood or forest
straw, hay, or similar material used as bedding, protection, etc, by animals or plants
See cat litter
a means of conveying people, esp sick or wounded people, consisting of a light bed or seat held between parallel sticks
to make (a place) untidy by strewing (refuse)
to scatter (objects, etc) about or (of objects) to lie around or upon (anything) in an untidy fashion
(of pigs, cats, etc) to give birth to (offspring)
(tr) to provide (an animal or plant) with straw or hay for bedding, protection, etc
Origin of litter
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse