verb

spatter

SPAT

Spatter (verb) means to splash small drops of a liquid onto someone or something. Example: “Grease spattered the stove as the bacon cooked.”

verb

To splash small drops of a liquid onto someone or something.

"Grease spattered the stove as the bacon cooked."

"Rain spattered against the window all afternoon."

noun

A splash or scattering of small drops or spots.

"There was a spatter of mud up the back of her jeans."

How to use spatter

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSmall drops of liquid (or paint, mud, etc.) splashed over a surface, or the act of splashing them.

Common pairings

blood spatter a spatter of rain spattered with paint

Word forms

spattered past tense, spatters plural, spatters singular

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Can you complete this real example?

Grease _____ the stove as the bacon cooked.

Etymology

Probably from a Middle Low German or Dutch word meaning "to spout or burst," related to "spit."

Origin: German

Synonyms

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spit splash sprinkle patter splatter splashing sputtering splattering plash swash splosh sputter

Related words

hit struggle pitch dust spray peninsula handful wade

Rhymes for spatter

matter batter hatter latter patter scatter shatter flatter chatter clatter platter squatter

See all rhymes for spatter →

Frequently asked questions

What does “spatter” mean?

The word “spatter” means to splash small drops of a liquid onto someone or something. In plain terms, small drops of liquid (or paint, mud, etc.) splashed over a surface, or the act of splashing them.

How do you pronounce “spatter”?

“Spatter” is pronounced SPAT (/ˈspætɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “spatter” in a sentence?

Here is “spatter” used in a sentence: “Grease spattered the stove as the bacon cooked.”

What part of speech is “spatter”?

Depending on how it is used, “spatter” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “spatter” come from?

The word “spatter” comes from German. Probably from a Middle Low German or Dutch word meaning "to spout or burst," related to "spit.".

How many meanings does “spatter” have?

“Spatter” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to splash small drops of a liquid onto someone or something.

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hit struggle pitch dust spray peninsula handful wade