dust

Compared meaning: to spread small things over a surface (verb).

比较义项：把某种细小的东西撒/散布在物体表面上（动词）。

• dust 本词

  Means applying a thin, even layer of fine powder onto a surface; the same word can also mean the opposite — removing dust — so context decides which meaning is meant.

  指把一层薄而均匀的细粉末撒在某个表面上；同一个词也可以表示相反的意思——掸掉灰尘——具体含义需要根据上下文判断。

  The detective dusted the doorknob with fine powder to find fingerprints.

  侦探在门把手上撒了一层细粉末以寻找指纹。

• scatter

  Suggests spreading distinct items over a wide area, often loosely or carelessly, rather than applying a fine substance; commonly used for things like leaves, seeds or papers.

  强调把一些独立的物件大范围地、常常是随意地撒开，而不是涂撒一种细小的物质；常用于树叶、种子或纸张之类的东西。

  The wind scattered dry leaves all across the empty parking lot.

  大风把干树叶吹得散落在整个空停车场里。

• dot

  Describes many separate items or points positioned at intervals across an area, so the result looks like a pattern of dots; often describes a scene rather than an action someone performs.

  指许多独立的物体或点分布在一片区域中，使结果看起来像一个个的点；这个词常用来描绘一个场景，而不是某人主动进行的动作。

  Small white farmhouses dot the green hillside in that region.

  在那个地区，一座座白色的小农舍点缀在绿色的山坡上。

• sprinkle

  Refers to adding a small amount of liquid drops or granular pieces here and there over a surface, gentler and smaller in quantity than scattering.

  指把少量的液滴或颗粒状的东西一点点地洒在表面上，比scatter的量更少、动作更轻柔。

  She sprinkled a few drops of water onto the dry plants.

  她把几滴水洒在干枯的植物上。

Dust, scatter, dot, and sprinkle all mean spreading things over a surface. Dust applies powder; it can also mean removing dust, not compared here. Scatter throws items over a wide area. Dot shows many items across an area. Sprinkle adds a few drops or grains.

这四个词在“把细小的东西撒/散布在表面上”这一意思上很接近，但撒的对象、方式和语气有所不同：dust强调撒的是细粉末，且常用于烹饪、清洁或勘查指纹等场景；sprinkle强调少量的液滴或颗粒状物一点点地洒下，动作更轻柔；scatter强调把独立的物件大范围地、常常随意地撒开；dot强调许多独立的点或物体分布在一片区域中，常用来描绘场景而非某人主动做的动作。这里不比较dust的“掸去灰尘”这一相反义项，也不比较dot的“加标点”等其他义项。