scatter vs sprinkle

scatter

verb
  • To distribute loosely as by sprinkling. 

  • 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 frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow. 

  • To be dispersed upon. 

noun
  • The act of scattering or dispersing. 

  • A collection of dispersed objects. 

sprinkle

verb
  • To cover (an object) by sprinkling a substance on to it. 

  • To drip in fine drops, sometimes sporadically. 

  • To baptize by the application of a few drops, or a small quantity, of water; hence, to cleanse; to purify. 

  • To rain very lightly outside. 

  • To cause (a substance) to fall in fine drops (for a liquid substance) or small pieces (for a solid substance). 

noun
  • An aspersorium or utensil for sprinkling. 

  • A light rain shower. 

  • A small hard piece of sugar and starch, or chocolate, used to decorate cakes etc. 

  • A light covering with a sprinkled substance. 

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