splatter

UK: ˈsplætə | US: ˈsplætər

Definition

  1. v. to scatter or spread (a liquid or soft substance) in drops or small blobs

  2. n. a spot or stain caused by splattered liquid

  3. n. a sound or action of liquid hitting a surface violently

Structure
splat <imitative sound of hitting/striking>er <verb-forming suffix>
Etymology

The word "splatter" is an onomatopoeic formation, mimicking the sound of liquid hitting a surface (e.g., "splat"). The suffix "-er" is added to transform the sound into a verb, a common pattern in English (compare "clatter," "chatter"). While the morpheme "splat" is imitative, it is not further divisible without losing its phonetic connection to the original word.

Examples

  1. The paint splattered across the canvas when she threw the brush.

  2. Rain splattered against the window during the storm.

  3. He wiped the coffee splatter off his shirt.

  4. The artist used a splatter technique to create abstract patterns.

  5. A loud splatter echoed as the water balloon hit the pavement.