<p><strong>Verb (used with object):</strong></p><ul><li>to throw loosely about; distribute at irregular intervals: to scatter seeds.</li><li>to separate and drive off in various directions; disperse: to scatter a crowd.</li><li>to refract or diffract (light or other electromagnetic radiation) irregularly so as to diffuse in many directions.</li><li>(of a medium) to diffuse or deflect (light or other wave phenomena) by collisions between the wave and particles of the medium.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object):</strong></p><ul><li>to separate and disperse; go in different directions.</li></ul><p><strong>Noun:</strong></p><ul><li>the act of scattering.</li><li>something that is scattered.</li></ul>