backscatter
|back-scat-ter|
🇺🇸
/ˈbækˌskætər/
🇬🇧
/ˈbækˌskætə/
scatter backward
Etymology
'backscatter' is a compound of the English words 'back' and 'scatter', where 'back' meant 'toward the rear' and 'scatter' meant 'to disperse or send in various directions.'
'scatter' comes from Middle English (compare 'scateren') and earlier Germanic roots meaning 'to scatter'; the compound 'backscatter' arose in 20th century technical English as instrumentation (radar, sonar, microscopy) described signals scattered back toward the source.
Initially it meant simply 'to scatter backward' in a literal sense, but over time it acquired specialized technical senses (returned radar/sonar signal, backscattered electrons in microscopy) and a derived meaning in computing for bounced messages.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the portion of scattered radiation, particles, or waves that is redirected roughly back toward the source; commonly used in radar, sonar, and remote sensing contexts to describe returned signal strength.
Meteorologists examined the backscatter from the storm to estimate rainfall intensity.
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Noun 2
in electron or X-ray imaging (e.g., scanning electron microscopy, backscatter X-ray scanning), electrons or photons scattered back from a sample that produce image contrast or signal.
Backscatter imaging highlighted compositional differences across the metal surface.
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Noun 3
in e-mail and network contexts, unsolicited bounce messages generated in response to forged or spoofed sender addresses; sometimes called mail backscatter.
After the spoofing attack the administrator had to filter a large amount of backscatter hitting the inboxes.
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Last updated: 2025/12/27 01:36