litter

(lĭtˈər)

1. a. A disorderly accumulation of objects; a pile.
   b. Carelessly discarded refuse, such as wastepaper: the litter in the streets after a parade.
2. The offspring produced at one birth by a multiparous mammal. See Synonyms at flock¹.
3. a. Material, such as straw, used as bedding for animals.
   b. An absorbent material, such as granulated clay, for covering the floor of an animal's cage or excretory box.
4. An enclosed or curtained couch mounted on shafts and used to carry a single passenger.
5. A flat supporting framework, such as a piece of canvas stretched between parallel shafts, for carrying a disabled or dead person; a stretcher.
6. The uppermost layer of the forest floor consisting chiefly of fallen leaves and other decaying organic matter.

1. To give birth to (a litter).
2. To make untidy by discarding rubbish carelessly: Selfish picnickers litter the beach with food wrappers.
3. To scatter about: littered towels all over the locker room.
4. To supply (animals) with litter for bedding or floor covering.

1. To give birth to a litter.
2. To scatter litter.

Related Forms:

• litˈter·er noun