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Scatter vs Dispersed - What's the difference?

scatter | dispersed |

As verbs the difference between scatter and dispersed

is that scatter is (ergative) to (cause to) separate and go in different directions; to disperse while dispersed is (disperse).

scatter

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (ergative) To (cause to) separate and go in different directions; to disperse.
    • the police scattered the crowds
    the crowd scattered
  • * Shakespeare
    • Scatter and disperse the giddy Goths.
  • To distribute loosely as by sprinkling.
    • Her ashes were scattered at the top of a waterfall.
  • * Dryden
    • Why should my muse enlarge on Libyan swains, / Their scattered cottages, and ample plains?
  • (physics) To deflect (radiation or particles).
  • To occur or fall at widely spaced intervals.
  • To frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow.
    • to scatter hopes or plans

    Derived terms

    * scatterbrain * scatterplot * scattershot

    dispersed

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (disperse)

    • disperse

    English

    Verb

  • (intransitive) To scatter in different directions
    • The Jews are dispersed among all nations.
  • * Bible, Proverbs xv. 7
    • The lips of the wise disperse knowledge.
  • * Cowper
    • Two lions, in the still, dark night, / A herd of beeves disperse .
  • (intransitive) To break up and disappear; to dissipate
  • (intransitive) To disseminate
  • (physics, transitive, intransitive) To separate rays of light etc. according to wavelength; to refract
  • (intransitive) To distribute throughout

    • Usage notes

    * Do not confuse with the monetary word disburse, despite similarity.

    Related terms

    * dispersal * dispersible * dispersion

    Anagrams

    * * ----