noun / verb / adjective

splatter

SPLAT-er/ˈsplætər/

A scattering of drops or small wet fragments.

A splatter of tomato sauce spreads across the tiles around the dropped cup.

A dropped cup of tomato sauce splashes messily over a kitchen tile floor, broad scattered splashes and coherent broken cup, no people or text.

Etymology

Splatter was perhaps suggested by spatter and splash. Its early meanings included both scattering liquid and making the noise of splashing water, linking the messy action with its sound.

In context

Rachel Froud Art0:56

there are two ways to Splatter the paint the first is to use your finger to pull the bristles of the brush backwards which flicks little specks of paint onto your surface

How to Splatter Acrylic Paint | Paint Splatter Art Tutorial

More examples

Hot oil splatters onto the stove as the bacon cooks.
Muddy splatters cover her boots after the hike.
She avoids splatter movies because of their graphic, bloody violence.

Forms

splatter · splatters · splattered · splattering

Similar words

spatter: Often suggests finer, smaller drops scattered over a surface.
splash: Usually suggests a larger burst or quantity of liquid.
spray: Suggests many fine droplets dispersed through the air.