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Scatter vs Fritter - What's the difference?

scatter | fritter |

In lang=en terms the difference between scatter and fritter

is that scatter is to occur or fall at widely spaced intervals while fritter is to break into small pieces or fragments.

As verbs the difference between scatter and fritter

is that scatter is (ergative) to (cause to) separate and go in different directions; to disperse while fritter is to occupy oneself idly or without clear purpose, to tinker with an unimportant part of a project, to dally, sometimes as a form of procrastination.

As a noun fritter is

a dish made by deep-frying food coated in batter.

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

    fritter

    English

    (wikipedia fritter)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A dish made by deep-frying food coated in batter.
  • A fragment; a shred; a small piece.
  • * Hudibras
    • And cut whole giants into fritters .

    Derived terms

    * apple fritter * corn fritter * French fritter * fritter batter * fritterware * oyster fritter * rice fritter * spam fritter

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To occupy oneself idly or without clear purpose, to tinker with an unimportant part of a project, to dally, sometimes as a form of procrastination.
    • I was supposed to do work, but I frittered around all afternoon.
    He can’t figure out how to finish the paper he’s writing, so he’s resorted to frittering with the fonts.
  • To sinter.
  • To cut (meat etc.) into small pieces for frying.
  • To break into small pieces or fragments.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Break all nerves, and fritter all their sense.

    Derived terms

    * fritter away * frittered * fritterer * frittering

    See also

    * tempura ----