backscattered
|back-scat-tered|
🇺🇸
/ˌbækˈskætər/
🇬🇧
/ˌbækˈskætə/
(backscatter)
scatter backward
Etymology
'backscattered' originates from English, specifically the compound 'backscatter' formed from 'back' + 'scatter', where 'back' meant 'at or to the rear' and 'scatter' meant 'to disperse or throw about'.
'backscatter' arose as a technical compound in the 20th century (used in physics and radar contexts) from the common English words 'back' and 'scatter'. 'Scatter' itself comes from Middle English 'squatteren/ scatteren' (to disperse), which ultimately derives from older Germanic roots meaning to dash about.
Initially it literally meant 'to scatter back' (i.e., disperse toward the rear); over time it became a technical term in physics, radar, optics and later computing (email), with the current meanings related to waves/particles being scattered back and to unwanted bounced email.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in computing/email context: unsolicited bounce messages or delivery-status notifications sent to forged sender addresses as a side effect of spam or forged mail (often called 'backscatter').
The spam campaign caused many backscattered bounce messages that flooded innocent users' inboxes.
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Verb 1
to scatter (waves, particles, or radiation) back toward the direction of the source; to be scattered backward.
The radar pulse was backscattered by the rough sea surface.
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Adjective 1
having been scattered back toward the source; describing radiation or particles that have been scattered in the backward direction.
Backscattered electrons produced contrast in the SEM image.
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Last updated: 2025/12/27 01:50