scattering

Etymology

verb

1. present participle and gerund of scatter

noun

1. A small quantity of something occurring at irregular intervals and dispersed at random points.
   There will be a scattering of showers, with heavy rain in places.
   There was something distinctly low-key, even wilfully alienating about the band’s performance. A scattering of OK Computer tracks were interspersed with more abstract latterday material – the clatter of 15 Step and Myxamatosis. June 26, 2017, Alexis Petridis, “Glastonbury 2017 verdict: Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Lorde, Stormzy and more”, in the Guardian
2. (elections) The total number of votes awarded to nonmajor or unlisted candidates.
3. (physics) The process whereby a beam of waves or particles is dispersed by collisions or similar interactions.