Meaning of Spatter | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A spray or shower of droplets hitting a surface.
2. A spot or spots of a substance spattered on a surface.
3. The sound of droplets hitting a surface.
4. A burst or series of sounds resembling the sound of droplets hitting a surface.
   figuratively
5. A collection of objects scattered like droplets splashed onto a surface.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“1763, Richard Bentley, Patriotism, a Mock-Heroic, London: M. Hinxman, Canto 5, pp. 65-66, As a rough Water-Dog, New-England’s Breed, Fresh plaister’d from some Pond with Mud and Weed, Round from his Fleece the dirty Puddle shakes Rejoicing in the Spatter that he makes:”

“Ivar turned the mare and urged her into a sliding trot. Her feet sent back a continual spatter of mud.”

“She crosses the plaza, receives a quick spatter from the fountain […]”

“There was what looked like a spatter of blood on one wall.”

“[…] I groped from step to step, collecting the shattered earthenware, and drying the spatters of milk from the banister with my pocket-handkerchief.”

“[…] they led the way in through the huge arch, over the icy ground that was filthy with the spatter of the birds.”

“As Henry lay awake that first night the hiss and spatter of the rain against his window seemed to have a personal grudge against him.”

“[Father Roman] had shriven many simple souls on the battlefields of the Republic, kneeling by the dying on hillsides, in the long grass, in the gloom of the forests, to hear the last confession with the smell of gunpowder smoke in his nostrils, the rattle of muskets, the hum and spatter of bullets in his ears.”

“The rapid handing out of the diplomas brought frequent applause—bits, spatters, volleys, as the case might be.”

“He went through the darkened parlor with its low early evening spatter of conversation.”

“[…] punctuated by the roar of great automobiles, overtaking gangsters, the spatter of tommy-guns mowing them down […]”

“1988, Don DeLillo, Libra, New York: Viking, Part 2, “12 August,” p. 270, The attendant had a droopy lower lip, a rust-tone complexion with a spatter of freckles across the cheekbones […]”

“It was untidy; the quarters of someone not used to looking after herself; to seat himself he removed the stained cup and plate and a spatter of envelopes, sheets of opened letters, withered apple-peel, old Sunday paper, from a chair.”

CEFR level