litter

/'litə/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
litter

A child picks up litter in the park.

Definition
  1. Noun:

    • Waste material: A collection of waste items, such as paper, cans, and bottles, that have been thrown away carelessly in a public place.
    • Group of young animals: All the young animals born to one mother at a single time.
    • Bedding material: A substance, such as straw or absorbent granules, used to line the area where an animal, especially a pet, sleeps and relieves itself.
    • Historical vehicle: A vehicle or seat, often a couch or bed enclosed by curtains, carried on poles by people or animals.
  2. Verb:

    • To scatter waste: To make an area untidy by leaving waste items scattered about.
    • To give birth (animals): (Used of animals) To give birth to a litter of young.
    • To cover untidily: To be scattered over a surface in an untidy way.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:

    • Please do not leave any litter in the park. (Waste material)
    • The cat gave birth to a litter of six kittens. (Group of young animals)
    • I need to change the cat's litter in its box. (Bedding material)
    • In ancient Rome, important people were carried in a litter. (Historical vehicle)
  • Verb:

    • People who litter the streets should be fined. (To scatter waste)
    • Our dog littered last week. (To give birth)
    • The desk was littered with papers and books. (To cover untidily)
Advanced Usage
  • "To litter something with something": To cover or fill a place with many things in a disordered way.
    • The report was littered with spelling errors.
  • "Litter-bearer": A person who helps carry a litter (vehicle).
    • The wounded soldier was transported by litter-bearers.
Variants and Related Words
  • Litterbug (n): A person who litters public places.
    • Don't be a litterbug; use the trash can.
  • Littered (adj): Covered with scattered rubbish or objects.
    • The littered beach was an ugly sight.
Synonyms
  • Noun (waste): trash, garbage, refuse, debris.
  • Noun (group of young): brood.
  • Verb (scatter waste): clutter, mess up.
Related Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms
  • "To pick up litter": To collect and remove litter from an area.
    • Volunteers gathered to pick up litter along the riverbank.
litter

A child picks up litter in the park.

Noun
  1. material used to provide a bed for animals
  2. conveyance consisting of a chair or bed carried on two poles by bearers
  3. rubbish carelessly dropped or left about (especially in public places)
  4. the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
Verb
  1. give birth to a litter of animals
  2. make a place messy by strewing garbage around
  3. strew
    • Cigar butts littered the ground