The physical process in which particles are deflected haphazardly as a result of collisions WordNet 3.0 & Open English WordNet

Scattering is a term used in physics to describe a wide range of physical processes where moving particles or radiation of some form, such as light or sound, are forced to deviate from a straight trajectory by localized non-uniformities in the medium through which they pass. In conventional use, this also includes deviation of reflected radiation from the angle predicted by the law of reflection. Wikipedia

Deflection of particles or radiation through interactions with other objects Wikidata