litter
LIHT
Litter (noun) means Rubbish or trash left lying around in a public place. Example: “Volunteers spent the morning picking up litter along the beach.”
noun
1
Rubbish or trash left lying around in a public place.
"Volunteers spent the morning picking up litter along the beach."
"There was litter all over the park after the festival."
"Please take your litter home if the bins are full."
2
All the baby animals born to one mother at the same time.
"The dog gave birth to a litter of six puppies."
"Our cat has just had a litter of four kittens."
"A fox's litter is usually born in a hidden den."
3
Granular material used to absorb a pet's waste, especially for cats.
"Don't forget to change the cat's litter box."
"I bought a big bag of clumping litter for the kitten."
"She scooped the dirty litter out of the tray every morning."
verb
1
To leave trash scattered around; to make a place untidy.
"Empty cans littered the sidewalk after the parade."
"Please don't litter in the playground, because children play there."
"Crisp packets littered the road outside the school gates."
How to use litter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTrash scattered around, a group of animal babies born together, or (as a verb) to scatter mess around.
Common pairings
pick up litter
a litter of kittens
litter box
no littering
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Word forms
- Plural
- litters
- Third person singular
- litters
- Past tense
- littered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Volunteers spent the morning picking up _____ along the beach.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman litere ("bedding, bed of straw"), from Latin lectus ("bed") — the sense shifted from straw bedding, to the young born on that bedding, to loose scattered material and trash.
Related words
Rhymes for litter
See all rhymes for litter →Frequently asked questions
What does “litter” mean?
The word “litter” means rubbish or trash left lying around in a public place. In plain terms, trash scattered around, a group of animal babies born together, or (as a verb) to scatter mess around.
How do you pronounce “litter”?
“Litter” is pronounced LIHT (/ˈlɪt.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “litter” in a sentence?
Here is “litter” used in a sentence: “Volunteers spent the morning picking up litter along the beach.”
What part of speech is “litter”?
Depending on how it is used, “litter” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “litter” come from?
The word “litter” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman litere ("bedding, bed of straw"), from Latin lectus ("bed") — the sense shifted from straw bedding, to the young born on that bedding, to loose scattered material and trash.
Is “litter” a common word?
“Litter” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “litter” have?
“Litter” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: rubbish or trash left lying around in a public place.
What is the difference between litter and garbage?
Litter specifically refers to rubbish that has been left scattered around in a public place, such as wrappers or bottles dropped on a street. Garbage or trash is a broader term covering all kinds of waste, including what's collected in bins rather than left lying around.
What is the difference between a litter of animals and a brood?
A litter is the group of baby animals born to one mother at the same time, typically used for mammals like dogs, cats, or pigs. Brood is the equivalent term used for birds or, informally, for a family of children.
Why is cat litter called litter?
Cat litter takes its name from the granular material used to absorb a pet's waste, a separate sense of the word from rubbish or animal offspring. The material is spread in a tray so cats can bury their waste in it.
Is litter used as both a noun and a verb?
Yes, litter functions as both. As a noun it refers to scattered rubbish, an animal's babies, or pet waste material, while as a verb it means to leave trash scattered around and make a place untidy, as in "please don't litter."
