What is litter? Pronunciation and usage in English

litter means . Learn how to pronounce and use litter through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of litter

litternoun

/ˈlɪtə(r)//ˈlɪtər/
Definition & pronunciation of litter

The word "litter" has a slightly tricky pronunciation! Here's a breakdown:

The most common and generally accepted pronunciation is:

  • /ˈlɪtər/ (LEE-ter)

Let's break that down:

  • ˈlɪ - This is the stressed syllable. It sounds like "LEE" – the same sound as in "leaf".
  • tər - This is the unstressed syllable and sounds like "ter" – similar to the "ter" in "letter" but shorter and less emphasized.

Here's a quick audio clip to help (from Merriam-Webster): https://www.merriam-webster.com/audio/pronunciation/litter

Key things to remember:

  • Stress: The emphasis is on the first syllable ("LEE").
  • Short "er" sound: The "ter" at the end is a short, crisp "er" sound, not a drawn-out "air" sound.

Do you want me to:

  • Give you some examples of how "litter" is used in a sentence?
  • Explain the difference between its pronunciation and similar-sounding words like "literature"?

Usage and examples with the word litter in English

Let's break down how to use the word "litter" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings! Here's a breakdown, grouped by the most common usages:

1. Animal Litter (Most Common)

  • Meaning: Refers to a group of young animals born at once.
  • Examples:
    • "The mother dog produced a litter of eight puppies."
    • "The farm had a litter of piglets this spring."
    • "She's expecting a litter of kittens this fall."
  • Related words: puppies, kittens, piglets, young, offspring

2. Waste Litter (Household/Environmental)

  • Meaning: Refers to the droppings of cats or other animals. This is the most common everyday usage.
  • Examples:
    • "Please clean up your cat's litter box daily."
    • “There was litter scattered all over the park.” (meaning trash/debris)
    • "I’m sweeping up the litter from the garden."
  • Related words: mess, refuse, debris, droppings, waste

3. "Litter" as a Verb (Less Common)

  • Meaning: To scatter something, often carelessly.
  • Examples:
    • "He littered the street with his trash." (meaning he threw trash on the street)
    • "Don’t litter the park; keep it clean!"
  • Synonyms: spill, scatter, discard carelessly

4. "Litter" as a Noun (Figurative)

  • Meaning (primarily in literature): A collection of things, often loosely related, that are presented together in a creative work. It suggests a chaotic or unplanned collection.
  • Example: "The play was littered with bizarre characters and surreal scenes." (meaning the play had a collection of odd and strange elements)
  • This usage is less common in everyday speech.

5. "Litter" in a Tech Context (Rare)

  • Meaning: (Specifically in computer science/networking) Refers to the data segments transmitted over a network. This is a highly technical usage.

Here's a table summarizing the different meanings:

Meaning Part of Speech Example
Young Animals Noun “The hen laid a litter of eggs.”
Animal Waste Noun "Clean up the litter from the dog."
Scattering Trash Verb "He littered the driveway with leaves."
Figurative Collection Noun "The novel was littered with symbolism."
Network Data Noun "The network was littered with errors."

Tips for Using "Litter" Correctly:

  • Context is key: The meaning of "litter" is almost always clear from the context of the sentence.
  • Consider your audience: “Littered with symbolism” is more appropriate for a literary discussion than a casual conversation about your yard.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to say when you want to use the word "litter"? (e.g., “I want to describe a messy room,” or “I want to talk about baby animals.”)

Synonyms for the word litter

Practice with vocabulary litter

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Visitors are urged not to ______ food scraps and packaging in the national park to protect wildlife.
  2. The city council has launched a campaign to encourage residents to sort their ______ for recycling.
  3. After the strong winds, the streets were covered in ______ from broken branches and fallen leaves.
  4. Leaving chewing gum on pavements contributes to urban ______ and is difficult to remove.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. Which of the following describes objects carelessly discarded in a public place? a) souvenirs b) valuables c) litter d) artifacts

  2. To prevent environmental pollution, it is crucial to properly ______ unwanted materials. a) collect b) dispose of c) accumulate d) scatter

  3. To avoid creating an unsightly ______ in the common areas, please put away all your belongings after use. a) display b) arrangement c) mess d) collection

  4. Which actions contribute to a cleaner environment? (Select all that apply) a) Throwing cigarette butts on the ground. b) Using designated waste bins. c) Recycling glass and paper. d) Leaving empty bottles on public benches. e) Not to litter.

  5. The urban planning committee discussed strategies to reduce the amount of ______ found on city streets and sidewalks. a) infrastructure b) foliage c) litter d) architecture

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The authorities imposed heavy fines on people who dropped rubbish in the streets. (Rewrite using a form of "litter")

  2. Small pieces of broken glass and plastic covered the playground. (Rewrite without using "litter")

  3. Leaving packaging and uneaten food on the hiking trail harms the environment. (Rewrite using a form of "litter")

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. litter
  2. waste
  3. debris
  4. litter

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) litter
  2. b) dispose of
  3. c) mess
  4. b) Using designated waste bins c) Recycling glass and paper e) Not to litter
  5. c) litter

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The authorities imposed heavy fines on people who littered the streets.
  2. Small pieces of broken glass and plastic formed debris across the playground.
  3. Littering the hiking trail with packaging and uneaten food harms the environment.

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