litter
gb/lˈɪtɚ/ us/lˈɪtɚ/
B1
English
~ 7700
eldobált szemét, szemét, szemetel, teleszemetel, alom, macskaalom, szanaszét hever, szétszór, rendetlenség, szétszórt holmi, almozóanyag, hordágy, gyaloghintó
NOUN
B1
1
szemét
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone] drops/throws [litter] [in/on a place]
The city has a serious problem with litter in its parks.
A város parkjaiban komoly gondot okoz az eldobált szemét.
Fines for dropping litter have doubled in the last year.
Az elmúlt évben megduplázódtak a szemetelésért kiszabott bírságok.
Volunteers spent the morning picking up litter along the beach.
Please put your litter in the bin before you leave the train.
Plastic litter is harming wildlife in rivers and oceans.
Learner examples
There is a lot of litter on the street after the game.
A meccs után sok szemét van az utcán.
We picked up litter in the park on Saturday.
Szombaton szemetet szedtünk a parkban.
Do not drop litter on the ground.
She put her sandwich wrapper with the other litter in the bin.
The sign says, "No litter."
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "litter" for any rubbish inside the home. In everyday English, "litter" usually suggests rubbish left in public places, while at home people more often say "trash" or "garbage" (AmE) or "rubbish" (BrE). Some learners also confuse the pronunciation or spelling of "litter" with "little".
Meaning
rubbish left in public places
Collocations
drop litter
|pick up litter
|litter problem
|street litter
|litter bin
|plastic litter
Synonyms
trash (Common in American English; can mean any rubbish, while 'litter' usually means rubbish left in public places.)
Antonyms
cleanliness (Refers to a state where there is no rubbish lying around.)
Themes
environment
|daily life
|daily_life
Definition
Trash such as paper, cans, or bottles that people leave on the ground in streets, parks, and other public places.
Small pieces of rubbish that are left lying in public places instead of being put in a bin.
VERB
B1
2
szemetel
A2
teleszemetel
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] litters [a place]
Tourists are warned not to litter the beaches during the holiday season.
A turistákat figyelmeztetik, hogy az üdülési szezonban ne szemeteljenek a strandokon.
The path through the forest was badly littered with bottles and cans.
Az erdőn át vezető ösvényt csúnyán teleszemetelték palackokkal és dobozokkal.
You can be fined if you are caught littering in this city.
Protesters promised they would not litter the area around the government buildings.
After the parade, the main street was littered with confetti.
Learner examples
Do not litter in the park.
Ne szemetelj a parkban.
The students littered the playground with drink cans.
A diákok üdítős dobozokkal szemetelték tele a játszóteret.
Many people litter the streets after big events.
The sign says, "Please do not litter."
Someone littered the beach with plastic bags.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"throw garbage"* when they mean *"litter"*. "Throw garbage" can be neutral if you throw it into a bin, but "litter" always suggests doing something wrong by leaving rubbish in a public place.
Meaning
to drop rubbish in public places
Collocations
litter the streets
|heavily littered
|fined for littering
|stop littering
|littering offense
Synonyms
pollute (More general and often used for air, water, or soil; "litter" usually refers to visible rubbish in public places.)
Antonyms
clean up (Means to remove rubbish and make a place tidy, the opposite of making it dirty with litter.)
Themes
environment
|daily life
|daily_life
|law
Definition
To drop or leave trash on the ground in a street, park, or other public place.
To leave rubbish lying in a public place instead of putting it in a bin.
NOUN
B2
3
alom
B1
Usage pattern:
a litter of [young animals]
Their dog had a litter of eight puppies last month.
A kutyájuk múlt hónapban egy nyolc kölyökből álló almot hozott világra.
The shelter is trying to find homes for a litter of abandoned kittens.
A menhely egy elhagyott kiscicákból álló alomnak próbál gazdát találni.
This will be the cat's last litter before she is spayed.
On average, a litter of pigs contains about ten piglets.
Each puppy in the litter was given a different colored collar.
Learner examples
The cat gave birth to a litter of five kittens.
A macska öt kiscicából álló almot hozott világra.
They adopted a puppy from a large litter.
Egy nagy alomból fogadtak örökbe egy kölyökkutyát.
This is the dog's first litter.
Every kitten in the litter looks different.
The farmer wrote down the size of each litter.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with "litter" as rubbish and produce strange sentences like *"The mother cat had a lot of litter in the street."* Use "a litter of" only for groups of baby animals born at the same time.
Meaning
group of baby animals born together
Collocations
a litter of puppies
|a litter of kittens
|large litter
|small litter
|first litter
|produce a litter
Synonyms
brood (Used mainly for birds or sometimes for children; "litter" is most common with cats, dogs, and other mammals.)
Antonyms
single (Describes only one baby born, instead of a group born together.)
Themes
animals
|pets
Definition
A group of baby animals, such as puppies or kittens, that are born from the same mother at the same time.
All the young animals born at the same time to one mother.
NOUN
B1
4
macskaalom
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] changes/cleans the litter
Don't forget to change the cat litter at least twice a week.
Ne felejtsd el hetente legalább kétszer kicserélni a macskaalmot.
We buy clumping litter because it is easier to clean.
Csomósodó macskaalmot veszünk, mert könnyebb tisztítani.
The smell was strong because the litter hadn't been changed for days.
Please scoop the litter before you leave for work.
Recycled paper litter is better for the environment than clay-based products.
Learner examples
The cat used the litter in the box.
A macska az alomtálcában lévő almot használta.
I need to buy more cat litter today.
Ma még vennem kell macskaalmot.
She cleans the litter every morning.
He put fresh litter in the tray.
This litter does not smell bad.
Common mistake:
Some learners think this meaning of "litter" is only the box or tray. In everyday English, "litter" usually refers to the material inside the box; the box itself is called a "litter box" or "litter tray".
Meaning
absorbent material in pet toilet trays
Collocations
cat litter
|change the litter
|clean the litter box
|clumping litter
|scented litter
|non-clumping litter
Synonyms
kitty litter (Mainly North American; an informal brand-like term for the same material used in a cat’s toilet box.)
Antonyms
empty tray (Describes a litter box with no absorbent material inside.)
Themes
pets
|daily life
|animals
|daily_life
Definition
Dry material in a box or tray that a pet, especially a cat, uses as a toilet inside a home.
Absorbent material, usually made of granules or pellets, placed in a tray for pets to urinate and defecate in indoors.
VERB
B2
5
szétszór
B1
Usage pattern:
[things] litter [a place]; [someone] litters [a place] with [things]
Toys littered the living room floor after the party.
A buli után játékok hevertek szanaszét a nappali padlóján.
Old magazines littered every surface in his apartment.
Régi magazinok hevertek szanaszét a lakásában minden szabad felületen.
Her desk was littered with open notebooks and coffee cups.
The report is littered with spelling errors.
Small fishing boats littered the harbor as the sun came up.
Learner examples
Clothes littered the floor in his room.
Ruhák hevertek szanaszét a szobája padlóján.
Many bottles littered the table after dinner.
Vacsora után sok üveg hevert szanaszét az asztalon.
Her desk was littered with pens and papers.
Leaves littered the garden after the storm.
The page is littered with small mistakes.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning always refers to rubbish. It can be neutral or even positive: for example, "stars littered the sky" suggests many stars, not trash. The common idea is "many small things scattered everywhere."
Meaning
to cover an area with scattered things
Collocations
litter the floor
|litter the desk
|toys littered the room
|papers littered the table
|littered with mistakes
Synonyms
cover (More general and neutral; "litter" suggests many small items and often an untidy or excessive amount.)
Antonyms
clear (Means to remove things so a surface is empty, the opposite of covering it with scattered items.)
Themes
description
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To cover a place with many small things lying around in a messy way.
To be spread over an area in large numbers in an untidy or scattered way, or to cause something to be spread like this.
NOUN
B2
6
rendetlenség
B1
Usage pattern:
a litter of [things] on [a surface]
Her bedroom floor was a litter of clothes and shoes.
Rendetlenség volt a hálószobája padlóján: ruhák és cipők hevertek szanaszét.
The table was covered with a litter of newspapers and empty cups.
Az asztalon újságok és üres csészék hevertek szanaszét.
He pushed aside the litter of tools to find a clear space.
There was a litter of documents across the office carpet.
We spent the afternoon sorting through the litter of old photos.
Learner examples
There was a litter of toys on the floor.
Rendetlenség volt a padlón: játékok hevertek szanaszét.
His desk was a litter of books and papers.
Az íróasztalán könyvek és papírok hevertek szanaszét.
I cleaned up the litter of clothes in my room.
The kitchen table was a litter of dirty plates.
She moved the litter of things to one side.
Common mistake:
Learners often use only "mess" and do not recognize this noun use of "litter". Note that this sense is less common than "litter" meaning rubbish or baby animals, and it usually describes many small things spread out.
Meaning
untidy scattered pile of things
Collocations
a litter of papers
|a litter of clothes
|desk litter
|floor litter
|a general litter
Synonyms
mess (Very common and general; "litter" suggests many small scattered items rather than general disorder.)
Antonyms
order (Refers to an organized, tidy arrangement without scattered objects.)
Themes
description
|home
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A messy group of things lying in different places on a table, floor, or other surface.
An untidy collection of objects spread over a surface.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
7
alom
B1
almozóanyag
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] spreads/changes the litter
Fresh straw litter was spread in the cows' stalls every morning.
Minden reggel friss szalmaalmot terítettek a tehenek állásaiba.
The smell improved as soon as they changed the litter in the pig sheds.
Azonnal enyhült a szag, amint kicserélték az almot a disznóólakban.
Proper litter helps keep the animals dry and warm in winter.
The farmer added more litter to absorb the moisture on the floor.
Deep litter systems reduce the need for daily cleaning.
Learner examples
The farmer put new litter in the cow shed.
A gazda friss almot tett a tehénistállóba.
They changed the dirty litter in the pig house.
Kicserélték a piszkos almot a disznóólban.
Good litter keeps the animals warm and dry.
Workers spread straw litter on the floor of the stable.
The chickens walked on the soft litter.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with pet "cat litter". On farms, "litter" often means straw or similar material used as bedding and to absorb waste for larger animals, not just for cats.
Meaning
straw or similar bedding for animals
Collocations
animal litter
|stable litter
|fresh litter
|change the litter
|deep litter system
Synonyms
bedding (General word for material animals sleep on; "litter" emphasizes straw-like material on the floor, often also used to absorb waste.)
Antonyms
bare floor (Describes a stall or pen without any bedding material on the ground.)
Themes
animals
|farming
|daily_life
Definition
Straw or other dry material on the floor where farm animals sleep and go to the toilet.
Straw, hay, wood shavings, or similar material spread on the floor of a stall or pen for animals to lie on or to absorb their waste.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
8
hordágy
B2
gyaloghintó
C2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is carried in a litter
The injured soldier was carried from the battlefield on a litter.
A sérült katonát hordágyon vitték el a csatatérről.
In ancient times, nobles traveled through the city in ornate litters.
Az ókorban a nemesek díszes gyaloghintókban vitették magukat végig a városon.
Servants lowered the litter so that the queen could step out.
The explorers fashioned a makeshift litter from branches and rope.
Four bearers lifted the litter and moved slowly down the narrow street.
Learner examples
The man was too weak to walk, so they carried him on a litter.
A férfi túl gyenge volt ahhoz, hogy járjon, ezért hordágyon vitték.
In the story, the king travels in a litter.
A történetben a király gyaloghintón utazik.
They made a simple litter to move the injured woman.
Two men held the front of the litter and two held the back.
Workers lifted the litter and took the patient to the road.
Common mistake:
This meaning is rare in modern everyday English, so learners may not recognize it and may confuse it with rubbish. Context with verbs like "carry" and "travel" usually makes the meaning clear.
Meaning
portable frame for carrying a person
Collocations
carried on a litter
|royal litter
|funeral litter
|medical litter
|field litter
Synonyms
stretcher (Modern medical term for a simple flat frame; "litter" can be more decorative or enclosed and is often used in historical or literary contexts.)
Antonyms
walk (If a person walks, they move by themselves instead of being carried in a litter.)
Themes
history
|medicine
|transportation
|travel
Definition
A kind of seat or bed with poles that people use to carry a person from place to place.
A portable couch or enclosed frame used to carry a person in a lying or sitting position, usually by two or more people or animals.
Grammar
Dictionary form
litter
IPA
GB/lˈɪtɚ/
US/lˈɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
lit - ter (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (lit)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: litter
- Plural: litter, litters
Verb
- Base: litter
- 3rd Person Singular: litters
- Present Participle: littering
- Past: littered
Word family
Forms
litters
noun
littering
verb
littered
verb
Related words
litterer
noun
litterbug
noun
Negative and opposite forms
litter-free
adjective
Advanced or less common
littermate
noun
Expressions
cat litter
1/kˈæt lˈɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
absorbent material for cat toilets
Special dry material that you put in a box for a cat to use as a toilet inside your home.
Examples
- We need to buy more cat litter before the weekend.
- She prefers clumping cat litter because it is easier to clean.
drop litter
1/dɹˈɑp lˈɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
to leave litter on the ground
To throw or leave trash on the ground in a public place instead of using a bin.
Examples
- People who drop litter here can be fined.
- Please don't drop litter on the bus.
litter bin
1/lˈɪtɚ bˈɪn/
fixed phrase
public rubbish container
A container in a public place where people should put their litter.
Examples
- There are not enough litter bins in the city center.
- Please use the litter bin instead of dropping that on the ground.
litter box
1/lˈɪtɚ bˈɑks/
fixed phrase
indoor toilet box for pets
A box inside a house that is filled with litter, where a cat or small pet can go to the toilet.
Examples
- Please clean the litter box before guests arrive.
- They keep the litter box in the bathroom to control the smell.
litter bug
1/lˈɪtɚ bˈʌɡ/
fixed phrase
informal
person who drops litter in public
A person who drops trash on the ground in public places instead of using a bin.
Examples
- The campaign poster says, "Don't be a litter bug!"
- Only a litter bug would throw a bottle out of a car window.
litter tray
1/lˈɪtɚ tɹˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
tray that holds pet litter
A shallow box or tray that holds litter for a cat or small pet to use as a toilet inside.
Examples
- She put the litter tray in a quiet corner of the kitchen.
- Change the water and clean the litter tray every day.
pick up litter
1/pˈɪk ˈʌp lˈɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
to collect litter from the ground
To collect pieces of trash from the ground and put them into a bag or bin.
Examples
- Every Saturday, volunteers meet to pick up litter along the river.
- Students were asked to pick up litter after the school festival.