1. Spread out over a wide area:
* Example: "The children's toys were scattered across the floor." This means the toys were not in a neat pile, but spread out randomly.
2. Not focused or organized:
* Example: "The presentation was scattered and difficult to follow." This means the information wasn't presented in a clear and logical order.
3. Dispersed or separated:
* Example: "The scattered remains of the old building were hard to identify." This means parts of the building were spread out and broken apart.
4. Not collected together:
* Example: "The scattered reports made it difficult to get a complete picture of the situation." This means the reports weren't all in one place, making it difficult to analyze them.
5. (In reference to rain or snowfall) Light and intermittent:
* Example: "There was a scattered shower this morning." This means the rain was light and not continuous.
The exact meaning of "scattered" will depend on the specific situation. It's important to consider the context to understand the intended meaning.