scattering

/ˈska-tə-riŋ/

noun

  1. an act or process in which something scatters or is scattered

  2. something scattered: such as

  3. a small number or quantity interspersed here and there

adjective

  1. going in various directions

  2. found or placed far apart and in no order

  3. divided among many or several

verb

  1. to cause to separate widely

  2. to cause to vanish

  3. to fling away heedlessly : squander

scatter disperse dissipate dispel mean to cause to separate or break up. scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions. disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.