SCATTER
—verb. 1 a throw about; strew. B cover by scattering. 2 a (cause to) move in flight etc.; disperse. B disperse or cause (hopes, clouds, etc.) To disperse. 3 (as scattered adj.) Wide apart or sporadic (scattered villages). 4 physics deflect or diffuse (light, particles, etc.). —none. 1 act of scattering. 2 small amount scattered. 3 extent of distribution. [probably variation of *shatter]