1. A slight or superficial understanding of a subject
   "He had only a smattering of knowledge about quantum physics";
   - smatter
    
2. A small number or amount
   "only a smattering of responses were received";
   - handful, smatter

1. Speak with spotty or superficial knowledge
   "She smatters Russian"
    
2. [rare] To talk foolishly
   - babble, blather, blether [UK, dialect], blither [informal], blatter [informal]
    
3. [archaic] Work with in an amateurish manner
   "He smatters at painting but has never taken lessons";
   - dabble, play around

Derived forms: smatterings

Type of: apprehension, blab [informal], blabber [informal], busy, chatter, clack [informal], discernment, gabble, gibber, jibber-jabber, maunder, occupy, palaver [informal], piffle [informal], prate, prattle, rabbit [Brit, informal], savvy, small indefinite amount, small indefinite quantity, speak, talk, tattle, tittle-tattle, twaddle [informal], twattle [UK, dialect], understanding, vapor [US], vapour [Brit, Cdn], witter [Brit, informal], yabber [informal], yatter [Brit, informal]