litter
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.trash or small pieces of waste that are left lying on the ground in public places.
n.waste or debris, specifically small items of refuse discarded in public areas rather than in proper receptacles.
Simple“The park was covered in litter after the music festival ended.”
In context“Local authorities have increased fines for litter in an effort to maintain the cleanliness of the city's historic district.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a group of baby animals born to the same mother at the same time.
n.the collective group of offspring produced at a single birth by a multiparous mammal.
Simple“Our cat just had a litter of five healthy kittens.”
In context“The vet noted that the runt of the litter was significantly smaller than its siblings but appeared otherwise healthy.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.absorbent material, like small stones or wood chips, used in a tray for pets to use as a toilet.
n.absorbent material, such as granulated clay or wood pellets, used to line a tray for the collection of pet animal waste.
Simple“Don't forget to buy more cat litter when you go to the supermarket.”
In context“The new biodegradable litter is made from recycled paper and is much easier to dispose of than traditional clay-based products.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
n.a type of bed or stretcher used to carry a sick or injured person.
n.a framework or stretcher used for transporting the sick or wounded; historically, a covered couch carried by people or animals.
Simple“The injured hiker was carried down the mountain on a litter.”
In context“The paramedics carefully secured the patient to the litter before navigating the narrow staircase of the apartment building.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to be spread across a surface in a messy way.
v.to cover a surface with many objects scattered in a disorderly fashion; frequently used in the passive voice.
Simple“Old toys were littered all over the playroom floor.”
In context“The coastline was littered with debris from the shipwreck, making it difficult for rescue teams to land their boats.”
From Middle English litere, lytere, etc., from Anglo-Norman litere, litiere, etc., from Old French litiere (“bedding; bed of loose straw; litter”), from Late Latin lectuāria (“bedding; blankets”), from Latin lectus (“bed; couch”) + -āria (“forming related nouns”), from Proto-Italic lektos (“[thing] lain upon”), from leɣō (“to lie down”), from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ-. Cognate with French lit and litière.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.