smattering C2 Topic:Numbers & Quantity US /ˈsmætɚɪŋ/ UK /ˈsmæ.təɹ.ɪŋ/ See IPA manual Freq #51442 Meanings 1 noun A small, scattered amount or number of something. Only a smattering of people showed up to the early lecture. 2 noun A slight, superficial knowledge of a subject. She has a smattering of Italian, just enough to order in a restaurant. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · a small, scattered amount... handfulbit Word family Forms smatterings Etymology AI details From Middle English smateringe, smattrynge, equivalent to smatter + -ing. smateringe Middle English View etymology graph -> Topics Numbers & Quantity Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # smattering **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈsmætɚɪŋ/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈsmæ.təɹ.ɪŋ/ **Frequency rank:** 51442 ## Meanings 1. A small, scattered amount or number of something. 2. A slight, superficial knowledge of a subject. ## Examples - Only a smattering of people showed up to the early lecture. - She has a smattering of Italian, just enough to order in a restaurant. ## Roots and Affixes - Root: smateringe ## Etymology From Middle English smateringe, smattrynge, equivalent to smatter + -ing. ## AI Etymology Smattering is from Middle English smateringe, smattrynge, equivalent to smatter + -ing. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include smateringe (Middle English). Current senses include a small, scattered amount or number of something and a slight, superficial knowledge of a subject. ## Topics - Numbers & Quantity - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown