/ ˈskætə(r); NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] scatter sth (on / over / around sth) | scatter sth (with sth) to throw or drop things in different directions so that they cover an area of ground :
Scatter the grass seed over the lawn.
Scatter the lawn with grass seed.
They scattered his ashes at sea.
2.
to move or to make people or animals move very quickly in different directions
SYN disperse :
[ v ]
At the first gunshot, the crowd scattered.
[ vn ]
The explosion scattered a flock of birds roosting in the trees.
■ noun
[ usually sing. ] (also scat·ter·ing / ˈskætərɪŋ; NAmE / [ sing. ]) a small amount or number of things spread over an area :
a scattering of houses
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (as a verb): probably a variant of shatter .