What's the difference between scatter and smatter?

Scatter


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To strew about; to sprinkle around; to throw down loosely; to deposit or place here and there, esp. in an open or sparse order.
  • (v. t.) To cause to separate in different directions; to reduce from a close or compact to a loose or broken order; to dissipate; to disperse.
  • (v. t.) Hence, to frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow; as, to scatter hopes, plans, or the like.
  • (v. i.) To be dispersed or dissipated; to disperse or separate; as, clouds scatter after a storm.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Using an in vitro culture system, light scatter analyses, and two-color flow cytometry, we provide evidence that the interleukin-2 (IL-2) and transferrin receptors can be induced within 48 hr on nonproliferating immature thymocytes.
  • (2) We identified four distinct clinical patterns in the 244 patients with true positive MAI infections: (a) pulmonary nodules ("tuberculomas") indistinguishable from pulmonary neoplasms (78 patients); (b) chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis with sputum repeatedly positive for MAI or granulomas on biopsy (58 patients, virtually all older white women); (c) cavitary lung disease and scattered pulmonary nodules mimicking M. tuberculosis infection (12 patients); (d) diffuse pulmonary infiltrations in immunocompromised hosts, primarily patients with AIDS (96 patients).
  • (3) Proliferating cells were abundant and scattered throughout the stratified epithelium before the appearance of villi.
  • (4) Furthermore, experiments with the fluorescence-activated cell sorter revealed increased forward light scatter from resting exudate PMN compared to blood PMN.
  • (5) Quantitative measurements of image contrast were carried out for B-mode images of anechoic spheres (cysts) embedded in a random scattering medium.
  • (6) The angular distribution of the scattered light was obtained as a function of time and compared with the rates at which hydrolysis products were formed.
  • (7) It is found that, whereas the spatial resolution achievable with such a system is only dependent upon its temporal resolution, the scattering characteristics of the tissue being imaged will strongly affect the ultimate imaging performance of such a system.
  • (8) In these cells no autonomous periodic activities were observed by light scattering.
  • (9) The scatter measurement was made using a standard imaging geometry with both beam stops and an additional x-ray detector placed behind the standard imaging detector.
  • (10) Type C-like particles were found inter- and intracellularly in gland and vessel lumina and scattered in the connective tissue.
  • (11) Modifications in quaternary structure induced by variation of these physicochemical parameters were followed by means of X-ray and quasi-elastic light-scattering and quantified in terms of weight average molecular weight (M), radius of gyration (Rg) and hydrodynamic radius (Rh).
  • (12) Cape no longer has the monopoly on talent; the stars are scattered these days, and Franklin's "fantastically discriminating" deputy Robin Robertson can take credit for many recent triumphs, including their most recent Booker winner, Anne Enright.
  • (13) Dome-shaped, fungiform papillae were scattered among these filiform papillae.
  • (14) Visible light activates a large guanosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphate (cGMP)- and phosphodiesterase (PDE)-dependent infrared light-scattering change in suspensions of photoreceptor disk membranes.
  • (15) The angular distribution of the scattered acoustic field from an inosonifying source will directly relate to the distribution of surface fibrillatory changes.
  • (16) The electron spectroscopic diffraction (ESD) mode of operation of an energy-filtering electron microscope offers the possibility of being able to avoid the background from inelastic scattering in selected-area electron diffraction patterns.
  • (17) Single particles or small clusters were scattered across the cell membrane.
  • (18) Fibrinogen was scattered in the intercellular spaces, and located in the inner layer or edges of the thickened intima of the bifurcation with increasing plaque formation.
  • (19) From the different shapes of the scattering curves of the native phosphofructokinase at pH 7.5 in the presence of 15 mM ATP and of the cross-linked tetramer or octamer, it can be inferred that the shapes of the protomers are different: in the presence of ATP the protomers are elongated, having an axial ratio of 1.8 to 2.0; the cross-linked state reveals a spherical protomer of radius 33.0 A, similar to that of the native enzyme at pH 7.5 in the presence of fructose 6-phosphate or fructose 1,6-bisphosphate.
  • (20) Cells taking up label are found scattered throughout the large cartilaginous epiphyses.

Smatter


Definition:

  • (v. i.) To talk superficially or ignorantly; to babble; to chatter.
  • (v. i.) To have a slight taste, or a slight, superficial knowledge, of anything; to smack.
  • (v. t.) To talk superficially about.
  • (v. t.) To gain a slight taste of; to acquire a slight, superficial knowledge of; to smack.
  • (n.) Superficial knowledge; a smattering.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) The debut of the film – before an audience of business journalists, film critics and a smattering of Wonga customers – comes before a grilling by MPs in Westminster on Tuesday as calls grow for tighter curbs on payday lenders.
  • (2) The trophic value of a food cannot be ascertained from food composition tables because only a smattering of the necessary information is commonly furnished.
  • (3) They've heard the views of a smattering of North Kivu's humanitarians, politicians, businessmen, civil society types and militia leaders.
  • (4) Nothing but plain text and links, it features a smattering of links from across the web as well as personal selections by various staff of active Kickstarter projects.
  • (5) As ever, there were a smattering of terrifyingly young GCSE students celebrating their successes.
  • (6) The village is a smattering of fishing shacks frequented by stray dogs and chickens; the sand is littered with sweet wrappers, water bottles, flip-flops and polystyrene food containers; the sea is cloudy from the dredging.
  • (7) In the face of such uncertainty, a smattering of refugees remained camped on the Hungarian border.
  • (8) There were MPs (Hilary Benn and family), a smattering of celebs, a lot of public sector workers, Unison stewards in smart purple smocks.
  • (9) Now the party, which has been dogged by allegations of financial mismanagement , has just a smattering of local councillors, and experts say that by May the UK could be "BNP-free" for the first time in a decade if Griffin fails to retain his seat in the European parliamentary elections.
  • (10) Its existing city centre has a smattering of empty shops at the foot of neglected Victorian buildings, and is noticeably short on big chains.
  • (11) That may represent a tiny fraction of the industry’s estimated sales of recorded music, but still, a means of listening to music essentially invented in the 19th century and long since presumed to be dead is growing at speed, and the presses at Optimal – along with similar facilities smattered across the UK, mainland Europe, the US and beyond – are set to grind and pump on, into the future.
  • (12) Many heartland supporters have already defected, and a smattering of leading trade unionists and Labour socialists have professed reluctant support for yes.
  • (13) Now they are smattered with artists' showrooms and craft workshops.
  • (14) It’s like a real-life computer game, with the extra dramatic dimension that if you crash you can’t just reboot,” he said, as a smattering of drone groupies pressed up against the barriers to eavesdrop on their hero.
  • (15) The former Murdoch editors Andrew Neil, David Yelland, Harold Evans and Colin Myler were all criticised personally, as were a smattering of lawyers such as Tom Crone .
  • (16) ‘Like the poshest hostage video ever’: our columnists on the Queen’s speech | Panel Read more The programme was also smattered with consumer-friendly pledges, from rolling out high-speed broadband nationwide and making it easier to switch energy supplier, to allowing local authorities to force bus firms to run more frequent services.
  • (17) There was a smattering of boos from the home supporters who had stayed to the final whistle.
  • (18) His grandmother was a leading communist, his father, Edward, a Labour voter and assistant director of education for West Sussex (before piggybacking on his son's success to become a well known broadcaster in his own right) while Enfield has always been a bit of a political maverick – liberal with a smattering of Catholic conservatism (though he's pretty much had it with God), and libertarianism (he loves a good hunt).
  • (19) Such is the "Red" part of his thinking, and the reason why his smattering of Tory fans often seem to be far outnumbered by hostile Thatcherites; as one Labour figure recently put it, "a Red Tory revolution would certainly need much blue blood to be spilled."
  • (20) I’d say to all of you please, judge us by our performance, not by our titles.” Abbott’s speech, which drew a smattering of applause from the audience, provoked a mixed reaction.