spattering

Verb

spatter (third-person singular simple present spatters, present participle spattering, simple past and past participle spattered)

1. (transitive) To splash (someone or something) with small droplets.
   • When my wet chihuahua shook himself, I was spattered with smelly water.

   Synonyms:

   spurt

2. (figuratively, transitive) To cover, or lie upon (something) by having been scattered, as if by splashing.
   • […] she seem’d to have woven the Rainbow into a loose Robe, which being so rarified that she might be seen through it, and also spatter’d with radiant Jewells in the forms of Starrs […]1660, Nathaniel Ingelo, Bentivolio and Urania, London: Richard Marriot, Book 2, pp. 79-80

   Synonyms:

   strew

3. (transitive) To distribute (a liquid) by sprinkling; to sprinkle around.
   • to spatter blood

   Synonyms:

   asperge, asperse, besprinkle, sprinkle

4. (figuratively, transitive) To send out or disperse (something) as if in droplets.
   • The cabman spattered his few words of English.1922, D. H. Lawrence, chapter 12, in Aaron’s Rod, London: Martin Secker, page 139
5. (intransitive) To send out small droplets; to splash in small droplets (on or against something).
   • Make sure the pieces of fish are dry before you put them into the hot oil so that it doesn’t spatter.
6. (figuratively, obsolete, transitive) To injure by aspersion; to defame.
   • Let envy spatter what it can,
     This Embryon will prove a man.1647, John Hall, “A Genethliacon to the Infant Muse of his dearest Friend” in Poems, London: J. Rothwell

   Synonyms:

   asperse, denigrate, muddy, assassinate, backbite, badmouth, befoul, belibel, besmirch, besmear

See all 11 meanings of spatter