Litter: meaning, definitions and examples

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litter

 

[ หˆlษชtษ™r ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

environment

Waste material that is thrown away, especially in public places. Litter can include items such as bottles, cans, wrappers, and other trash.

Synonyms

garbage, rubbish, trash.

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Word Description / Examples
litter

Usually refers to small pieces of waste that people leave on the ground in public places, particularly in streets and parks.

  • Please do not litter the park
  • I saw a lot of litter on the beach
trash

Another term used mainly in American English to describe general waste or discarded material. It is sometimes used interchangeably with 'garbage', but can also include non-food items.

  • Throw the old papers in the trash
  • The trash bin is full
garbage

Commonly used in the United States to describe household waste, especially food waste.

  • Can you take out the garbage? The garbage truck comes every Wednesday
rubbish

This term is predominantly used in British English to describe waste material, similar to 'garbage' in American English.

  • The council collects rubbish every Monday
  • There's so much rubbish on the street after the festival

Examples of usage

  • Please do not litter in the park.
  • The beach was covered in litter after the holiday weekend.
Context #2 | Noun

animals

A group of young animals born to the same mother at the same time. It can refer to a group of puppies, kittens, piglets, or other baby animals.

Synonyms

brood, offspring, young.

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Word Description / Examples
litter

This term is commonly used to refer to a group of young animals, especially those born at the same time to the same mother, such as puppies or kittens.

  • The dog had a litter of six puppies last week
offspring

This term is more scientific and formal, suitable for describing the young of both animals and humans. It is often used in contexts that require a neutral or academic tone.

  • The research focused on the offspring of the endangered species
  • Her offspring have all gone to prestigious universities
young

This word is often used to describe juvenile animals of any species in a general sense. It is less formal and can be used in everyday conversation.

  • The lioness protects her young from predators
  • The young deer stayed close to their mother
brood

This word is often used for a group of young birds hatched at the same time, or more generally, a family of offspring. It can sometimes have a slightly negative or serious connotation when referring to human families.

  • The hen looked after her brood carefully
  • She grew up in a large brood of children

Examples of usage

  • The litter of puppies played in the yard.
  • The cat had a litter of five kittens.
Context #3 | Verb

making a mess

To scatter objects in an untidy or careless way. It can refer to throwing trash or other items around without proper disposal.

Synonyms

disperse, scatter, strew.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
litter

Used when referring to small items or trash that are carelessly thrown around, often in a public space. It has a negative connotation.

  • People who litter in the park disrespect the environment.
  • The street was littered with empty bottles after the concert.
scatter

Used when things or people are spread out in different directions, often without a clear pattern.

  • The children scattered when the bell rang.
  • He scattered the seeds across the field.
disperse

Used to describe the act of spreading things or people over a wide area, often in an orderly or natural way.

  • The police dispersed the crowd after the protest.
  • Seeds are dispersed by the wind.
strew

Used when objects are spread out on a surface, often in a careless or random manner. It can carry a slightly negative connotation depending on the context.

  • Clothes were strewn all over the floor.
  • Flowers were strewn across the pathway for the wedding.

Examples of usage

  • He tends to litter his room with clothes and books.
  • Please do not litter the streets with your waste.

Translations

Translations of the word "litter" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น lixo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค•เฅ‚เคกเคผเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Mรผll

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ sampah

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัะผั–ั‚ั‚ั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ล›mieci

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ”ใฟ (gomi)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท dรฉchets

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ basura

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท รงรถp

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์“ฐ๋ ˆ๊ธฐ (sseuregi)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู‚ู…ุงู…ุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ odpad

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ odpad

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅžƒๅœพ (lฤjฤซ)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ smeti

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ rusl

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะพา›ั‹ั

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒœแƒแƒ’แƒแƒ•แƒ˜ (nagavi)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ zibil

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ basura

Etymology

The word 'litter' originated from Middle English, where it referred to bedding for animals. Over time, it evolved to include the concept of waste material thrown in public spaces. The verb form of 'litter' developed from the idea of scattering objects in a disorderly manner. Today, 'litter' is commonly associated with environmental pollution and the care of young animals.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,379 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.