scatter

Imagine throwing a handful of birdseed onto the ground—it does not land in one neat pile, does it? It spreads out in all directions. That is the essence of "scatter": to throw or spread things around in a loose, uneven way. Rain can scatter leaves across a lawn, and strong winds might scatter papers across a street. But "scatter" is not just about physical objects. A crowd can scatter quickly when a sudden rainstorm begins, and your attention can scatter when you are trying to focus on something difficult.

To scatter means to distribute or spread things widely, often in a random or disorganized manner. It evokes a vivid image of dispersal—think of seeds scattered by the wind, papers blown across a room, or a flock of birds suddenly taking flight and breaking apart. For example: "The protesters scattered when the police arrived," or "She scattered rose petals along the aisle for the wedding."

"Scatter" is most often used as a verb, meaning to spread things out or to cause people or animals to move apart quickly. It can also describe the result as a loose pattern of things spread over an area. You might scatter confetti, leaving a bright spread of color across the floor.

The word also carries a figurative meaning. A sudden noise could scatter a group, and a difficult question might scatter the focus of a meeting. It can even describe a loss of concentration: "His thoughts scattered as he tried to remember the details of the event."

Historically, "scatter" appeared in Middle English and is closely related to the word "shatter." This sense of breaking apart and distributing remains central to its meaning today. So, whether it's physical objects flung in different directions or abstract ideas losing their cohesion, to scatter is about a wide distribution and the breaking up of unity.