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scatter

scatter

8 4.0
A group of things or people spread over a wide area with no order
  • noun
  • /ˈskætər/
translation icon : dispersión
  • Gramma Lisa spotted their prey emerging from the ground scatter as she approached the gap.
  • scatter plot
  • scatter diagram
  • scatter of data

So every point you have scatter corresponding to that point.

Examples

  • I saw the sorry remains of my stove in a scatter of metal and broken spice bottles.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Trend lines are less clear in data scatter than in fuzzy data.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Kim and Chan are working to reduce the scatter in their current data.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The significant feature is that in spite of the scatter, the points clearly cluster along a straight line.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The sway index expresses the degree of scatter of data about the mean center of balance.

    Academic text (1999)
  • WISC-R profiles that reflect clinically unique scatter are quite rare in both normal and special education groups.

    Academic text (1994)
  • In the stall, the horse was nosing at the last scatter of a flake of hay.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The assumptions were examined through scatter plots and Pearson correlations.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The scatter of papers across the desk made it hard to find the important documents.

  • After the storm, there was a scatter of branches and debris littering the road.

Synonyms

spread
vsscatter
89 2.5

An increase in size or amount over an area

is narrower, stressing a disorderly random arrangement as the outcome
dispersal
vsscatter
17 5.2

The spreading of things over a wide area, for example seeds or people

emphasizes random or disorderly outcome rather than neutral distribution
dispersion
vsscatter
5 6.5

The spreading of people or things across a wide area

stresses disorder or randomness rather than just the process itself
diffusion
vsscatter
5 5.8

Spreading ideas or customs to many places

focuses on disorderly or random spreading rather than gradual dispersion
scattering
vsscatter
1 4.2

Things or people suddenly moving apart and spreading over an area

is the general act or result term rather than the gerund form
strewing
vsscatter
7.0

Scattering things like seeds or petals over a surface

is about spreading widely and randomly, not only careless surface placement

Compounds

A small decorative pin worn on clothes, often in groups

A small mat you can move that covers part of a floor

How Widespread

dispersion
5 6.5
distribution
64 3.0
scatter
8 4.0
scattering
5 4.6
sprinkling
5 2.5

Surface Forms

scatter singular
scatters plural

Etymology

As a noun, scatter names the result of that action — the loose 'spread' you see after things are tossed or people have run apart. So a scatter is simply the messy or random spreading of things or people over an area.