Definition: spatter

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

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

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Spatter \Spat"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spattered; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Spattering.] [From the root of spit salvia.]
   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.
Spatter \Spat"ter\, v. i.
   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.