Littered: meaning, definitions and examples
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littered
[ ˈlɪtərd ]
past participle
Littered refers to the action of having scattered or placed various items in a way that is disorderly and untidy. It commonly applies to things such as waste or debris that has been left in a public area, contributing to environmental pollution. The term can also relate to the state of being strewn with objects, giving a sense of chaos or neglect. This word often invokes images of carelessness in relation to keeping spaces clean and orderly.
Synonyms
dispersed, scattered, spread, strewn
Examples of usage
- The park was littered with plastic bottles after the festival.
- The roads were littered with leaves during autumn.
- Her thoughts were littered with doubts and fears.
- The beach was littered with shells and seaweed.
Translations
Translations of the word "littered" in other languages:
🇵🇹 coberto de lixo
🇮🇳 कचरा फैला हुआ
🇩🇪 verstreut
🇮🇩 tersebar sampah
🇺🇦 засмічений
🇵🇱 zaśmiecony
🇯🇵 散らかった
🇫🇷 jonché
🇪🇸 cubierto de basura
🇹🇷 çöplerle kaplı
🇰🇷 쓰레기가 있는
🇸🇦 مملوء بالقمامة
🇨🇿 zaneřáděný
🇸🇰 znečistený
🇨🇳 满是垃圾的
🇸🇮 zavržen
🇮🇸 ruslulegt
🇰🇿 ластанған
🇬🇪 ნაგვით დაფარული
🇦🇿 tullantılarla dolu
🇲🇽 cubierto de basura
Etymology
The word 'litter' originates from the Old French word 'littere' meaning 'to bed' or 'to put down', which could reference the act of placing things down in a careless way. It entered the English language in the 14th century. The transition from its original meaning to refer to refuse or trash came about over the following centuries as societies began to notice the negative impacts of waste left in public areas. The verb form, 'to litter', emerged in the 19th century, and its usage has expanded particularly in the context of environmental awareness. Discussions surrounding littering have been significantly influenced by movements aimed at promoting cleanliness and sustainable living practices. Today, 'littered' is widely used to depict various scenarios of disorder and environmental neglect.