to scatter vs to sprinkle vs to spread to sprawl

TO SCATTER = [intransitive, transitive] if someone scatters a lot of things, or if they scatter, they are thrown or dropped over a wide area in an irregular way [=to distribute]

scatter (something) over/around/across etc something
• Scatter the onions over the fish.
• The flowers fell and scattered on the ground.
• Mac devices' glossy LED panels scatter reflective light.
• Files are accessed by file name, but actual data is stored in physical sectors scattered around a disk.

---

TO SPRINKLE = [transitive] to scatter small drops of liquid or small pieces of something [=to scatter].

sprinkle something with something
• Sprinkle asparagus with Parmesan cheese, sea salt, and garlic powder.

sprinkle something on/over something
• Sprinkle sugar over a cake.
• Sprinkle olive oil over salad to enhance its taste.

• A sprinkler is a piece of equipment used for scattering water on grass or soil.

---

TO SPREAD = [intransitive, transitive] if something spreads or is spread, it becomes larger or moves so that it affects more people or a larger area [=to stretch]

Examples with intransitive use [= to extend to, to expand to]
• Parkinson’s may begin in gut and spread to the brain via the vagus nerve.

Examples with transitive use [= to propagate]
• The terrorists hope to spread the poison gas through the entire subway station.

---

TO SPRAWL /sprɔːl/ = [intransitive, transitive] to lie or sit with your arms or legs stretched out in a ungraceful way [=to spread]