Scattered things are spread over an area in an untidy or irregular way. He picked up the scattered toys The fridge door was open and food was scattered across the floor
If something is scattered with a lot of small things, they are spread all over it. Every surface is scattered with photographs. spread over a wide area or over a long period of time scattered over/throughout/across/around etc
being distributed here and there without order; "scattered leaves littered the sidewalk"; "don't forget to pick up the clothes lying strewn all over the floor
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space; "scattered showers"; "scattered villages"
lacking orderly continuity; "a confused set of instructions"; "a confused dream about the end of the world"; "disconnected fragments of a story"; "scattered thoughts"
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space; "scattered showers"; "scattered villages" being distributed here and there without order; "scattered leaves littered the sidewalk"; "don't forget to pick up the clothes lying strewn all over the floor