Scatter Meaning
Scatter Definition & Usage
To throw or spread something in various directions.
Examples
- "She scattered the seeds across the garden bed to grow new flowers."
- "The wind scattered the leaves all over the park."
- "He accidentally scattered the papers when he bumped the table."
- "The children scattered the confetti as the parade passed by."
- "The police scattered the crowd to avoid chaos."
To cause people or things to move or spread out in different directions.
Examples
- "The teacher scattered the students into different groups for the project."
- "The announcement caused the crowd to scatter in all directions."
- "The dogs scattered across the yard when the gate was opened."
- "During the fire drill, the workers scattered to the emergency exits."
- "The sound of the alarm made the pedestrians scatter quickly."
To make something disorganized or spread out in a random way.
Examples
- "After the meeting, the papers were scattered all over the desk."
- "Her thoughts were scattered, and she couldn't concentrate."
- "The toys were scattered across the living room after the children played."
- "The notes were scattered on the floor after the presentation."
- "His belongings were scattered throughout the apartment after the move."
Cultural Context
The word 'scatter' originates from Old French 'scater,' which means to throw or disperse. Its meaning has evolved over time to include both intentional and accidental spreading or dispersal of objects, people, or things.
The Scattering of the Seeds
Story
The Scattering of the Seeds
On a warm spring morning, Sarah stood in the middle of her garden, holding a small bag of sunflower seeds. With a careful hand, she scattered the seeds across the soil, hoping that this year's harvest would be even more beautiful than last year's. The breeze picked up, and Sarah watched as the wind scattered some of the seeds farther than she intended. As she knelt to collect them, she laughed to herself, knowing that the unpredictable nature of the wind was just part of the charm of gardening. Later that afternoon, Sarah's daughter, Lily, played in the garden, her laughter echoing as she ran across the yard. The wind had picked up again, and as Lily ran, her energy scattered the fallen leaves in all directions. It was like the entire garden was alive with motion. Sarah stood by the door, watching with a smile, as the playful scattering of leaves made the space feel even more alive. As evening fell, Sarah began tidying up the garden, but the playful chaos of the day left the yard looking disordered. Tools, gloves, and gardening supplies were scattered across the ground. Sarah didn't mind. The garden, like her life, was never perfectly ordered. Sometimes, things had to be scattered before they could fall back into place. The next day, Sarah's neighbor, Mr. Thompson, came by to ask if she'd seen his dog, Buddy. Apparently, Buddy had scattered off after a squirrel earlier that morning and was now nowhere to be found. Sarah smiled at the thought of Buddy, a hyperactive terrier, scattering himself in search of adventure. As the sun began to set, Sarah stood in her garden once again, admiring the progress of the seeds she had scattered. She realized that, like the wind or the playful dog, sometimes the most beautiful things came from a little bit of scattered chaos.