scatter vs spread out

scatter

verb
  • To (cause to) separate and go in different directions; to disperse. 

  • Of a pitcher: to keep down the number of hits or walks. 

  • To deflect (radiation or particles). 

  • To occur or fall at widely spaced intervals. 

  • To distribute loosely as by sprinkling. 

  • To frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow. 

  • To be dispersed upon. 

noun
  • The act of scattering or dispersing. 

  • A collection of dispersed objects. 

spread out

verb
  • Become further apart. 

  • To place items further apart. 

adj
  • Covering a wide area of space or long period of time. 

  • Far apart, not close to each other - far apart, extended over an expanse of space or time. 

How often have the words scatter and spread out occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )