◙ noun 1. [mass noun] rubbish, such as paper, tins, and bottles, that is left lying in an open or public place • （在公共场所乱扔的）废物，垃圾 »fines for dropping litter. 对乱扔垃圾的罚款。 [in sing.] an untidy collection of things lying about • 一堆（杂乱的）东西 »a litter of sleeping bags on the floor. 地上一堆睡袋。 2. a number of young animals born to an animal at one time • 一窝（小动物） »a litter of five kittens. 一窝五只小猫。 3. [mass noun] material forming a bedding or carpet, in particular • 铺垫物，尤指 (也作 cat litter)granular absorbent material lining a tray where a cat can urinate and defecate when indoors • 猫沙 [mass noun] straw or other plant matter used as bedding for animals • 褥草 (也作 leaf litter)decomposing but recognizable leaves and other debris forming a layer on top of the soil, especially in forests • 枯枝落叶层 4. (historical)a vehicle containing a bed or seat enclosed by curtains and carried on men's shoulders or by animals • [史] （有床或座的）车，轿 a framework with a couch for transporting the sick and wounded • 担架 ◙ verb, [with obj.] 1. make (a place) untidy with rubbish or a large number of objects left lying about • 乱扔（废物，垃圾） »clothes and newspapers littered the floor. 地上乱扔着衣服和报纸。 [with obj. and adverbial] [一般作 be littered] leave (rubbish or a number of objects) lying untidily in a place • 乱扔，乱丢 »there was broken glass littered about. 打碎的玻璃杯乱丢在那儿。 [一般作 be littered with] (figurative)fill (a text, history, etc.) with examples of something unpleasant • [喻] 在（文章，历史）中充斥，塞满（不良事物） »news pages have been littered with doom and gloom about company collapses. 新闻网页上充斥着公司倒闭的悲惨消息。 2. (archaic)provide (a horse or other animal) with litter as bedding • [古] （为马或其他动物）铺褥草
【语源】
1. Middle English (in sense 4 of the noun): from Old French litiere, from medieval Latin lectaria, from Latin lectus 'bed'. Sense 1 dates from the mid 18th cent