v (1)(使)散开((cause to) go or rush in different directions)[I，T+n]：The crowd/boys/class～ed in all directions at the bell. 铃一响，人群/男孩们/全班的学生四处散开了。The sudden noise～ed the birds. 突然的响声驱散了鸟。The sun～ed the clouds. 太阳驱散了乌云。The police～ed the crowd. 警察驱散了人群。A gust of wind～ed leaves all over the yard. 一阵风把树叶吹得满院都是。～all hopes for victory (fig)使所有胜利的希望破灭;〖同〗chase away;〖反〗gather，collect;

(2)撒，洒，散布，到处是(throw about in various directions)[T+n，T+n+prep (with)，T+n+adv]：～grass seed 撒草籽;The park is～ed with rubbish after a holiday. 假日过后，公园里到处是垃圾。～crumbs (corn) for the birds/the chicken 撒面包屑(谷子)喂鸟/鸡;～seeds on the field/sand on the icy road (～the field with seeds/the icy road with sand)把种子撒在地里/沙子撒在有冰的路上;～the newspapers all over the room/the rat poison around the cellar floor 把报纸扔得满屋都是/把鼠药撒在地窖四周的地上;～the toy/the clothes about (all over) 把玩具/衣服到处乱扔;～(one's) money around/about (fig)乱花钱;〖同〗cast，distribute，sprinkle;〖反〗gather，collect;

→′scattered adj 零散的，分散的;′scattering n 分散;稀疏的少量;

n 散布的东西，稀疏的少量(small amount scattered here and there)[U，a～][N (of)](=scattering)：a～of snow/hailstone on the ground 地上稀稀落落的雪/冰雹;the cold blue night with its～of stars 天上挂着几颗星星的寒冷夜晚;〖同〗handful，sprinkle;

→′scatter-brain n (infml)精神不集中的人，浮躁;′scatter-brained adj 不专注的;轻率的，浮躁的;

【辨异】scatter与sprinkle都可表示“撒，洒”。scatter指往不同的方向或某一区域内撒东西，如：scatter seeds evenly over the earth(把种子均匀地撒在地里);sprinkle强调有意识地撒水﹑沙子、盐等，如：sprinkle the cakes with sugar(在蛋糕上撒糖)。