spatter Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively
    splatter; spattering; sputter; sputtering; splattering; splutter.
    • he heard a spatter of gunfire
  2. noun the act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface
    splattering; splashing; splash; spattering.
  3. verb dash a liquid upon or against
    plash; splatter; splash; splosh; swash.
    • The mother splashed the baby's face with water
  4. verb rain gently
    pitter-patter; sprinkle; patter; spit.
    • It has only sprinkled, but the roads are slick
  5. verb spot, splash, or soil
    bespatter.
    • The baby spattered the bib with food

WordNet

Spat"ter transitive verb
Etymology
From the root of spit salvia.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Spattered ; present participle & verbal noun Spattering
Definitions
  1. To sprinkle with a liquid or with any wet substance, as water, mud, or the like; to make wet of foul spots upon by sprinkling; as, to spatter a coat; to spatter the floor; to spatter boots with mud.
    Upon any occasion he is to be spattered over with the blood of his people. Burke.
  2. To distribute by sprinkling; to sprinkle around; as, to spatter blood. Pope.
  3. Fig.: To injure by aspersion; to defame; to soil; also, to throw out in a defamatory manner.
Spat"ter intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To throw something out of the mouth in a scattering manner; to sputter.
    That mind must needs be irrecoverably depraved, which, . . . tasting but once of one just deed, spatters at it, and abhors the relish ever after. Milton.

Webster 1913