scattering
Throwing in directions
A scattering is a small, dispersed quantity of something—not a concentrated mass but items spread thinly across space or time: a scattering of houses along the road, a scattering of applause from the audience.
The word suggests enough to notice but not enough to constitute a significant amount.
Scattering across space
- spreadTo distribute widely
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- disseminationWide distribution of information
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
sprinkling · strewing · sowing · broadcasting · diaspora · migration · propagation · radiation
Mixed collection of things
- arrayOrdered collection or display
- diversityState of varied elements
- multiplicityState of being many
- rangeExtent of variation
medley · miscellany · collection · smattering · sampling · sprinkling · handful · potpourri
Waves spreading past obstacles
- refractionWave bending between media
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- photonsDiscrete packets of radiance
- prismLight-splitting optical element
spectrum · iridescence · rainbow · wavelength · interference · opacity · turbidity · translucence
Murky atmospheric suspension
- mistFine airborne moisture
- fogLow-lying cloud cover
- sprayDispersed liquid droplets
- cloudAtmospheric water vapor mass
plume · smoke · vapor · steam · dust · aerosol · particles · droplets
Small in number
- thinSmall in diameter
- sparseThinly scattered or distributed
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
scarce · meager · patchy · spotty · isolated · intermittent · far-flung · dispersed
Negative subatomic particle
- fermionHalf-integer spin particle
- interactionReciprocal action between parties
- lifetimeDuration of existence
- self-energyParticle's own field energy
metals · temperature · superfluidity · spin · phase · damping · transport · helium-3
dispersion
Scattering across space
- spreadTo distribute widely
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- disseminationWide distribution of information
diffusion · sprinkling · strewing · sowing · broadcasting · diaspora · migration · propagation · radiation · circulation
assortment
Mixed collection of things
- arrayOrdered collection or display
- diversityState of varied elements
- multiplicityState of being many
range · medley · miscellany · collection · smattering · sampling · sprinkling · handful · potpourri · patchwork
diffraction
Waves spreading past obstacles
- refractionWave bending between media
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- photonsDiscrete packets of radiance
prism · spectrum · iridescence · rainbow · wavelength · interference · opacity · turbidity · translucence · backscatter
haze
Murky atmospheric suspension
cloud · plume · smoke · vapor · steam · dust · aerosol · particles · droplets · atomization
few
Small in number
- thinSmall in diameter
- sparseThinly scattered or distributed
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
infrequent · scarce · meager · patchy · spotty · isolated · intermittent · far-flung · dispersed · stray
electron
Negative subatomic particle
- fermionHalf-integer spin particle
- interactionReciprocal action between parties
- lifetimeDuration of existence
self-energy · metals · temperature · superfluidity · spin · phase · damping · transport · helium-3 · susceptibility
jumble
Confused disorderly collection
- messDisorderly, troublesome condition
- clutterUntidy collection of items
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
disorganization · disorder · confusion · tangle · muddle · shambles · dishevelment · litter · heap · tumble
- planting methodsdirect sowing, direct seeding, transplanting, sowing, seed starting
- muddlingmuddling, jumbling, scrambling, mixing up, disarranging
- crystallographycrystal structure, crystal systems, crystal growth, dislocations, crystallization
- Optical Methodsinterferometry, spectroscopy, photometry, refractometry, colorimetry
- scatteringbackscattering, backscatter
- Transport PhysicsBoltzmann equation, diffusion, flux, cross sections, attenuation
scatteringconcentration
Sustained single-minded attention
clustering · aggregation · convergence · centralization · consolidation
scatteringgathering
Collection of people meeting
collecting · assembling · amassing · corralling · stockpiling
- scattering ashesDistributing cremated remains outdoors
- ash scatteringDistributing cremated remains outdoors
- Compton scatteringPhoton-electron inelastic collision
- Mie scatteringLight scattered by larger particles
- light scatteringDeflection by particles