[scat.ter.ing] n (14c) 1: an act or process in which something scatters or is scattered
2: something scattered: as a: a small number or quantity interspersed here and there "a ~ of visitors" b: the random change in direction of the particles constituting a beam or wave front due to collision with particles of the medium traversed
[2]scattering adj (15c) 1: going in various directions
2: found or placed far apart and in no order
3: divided among many or several "~ votes" -- scat.ter.ing.ly adv