a slight superficial knowledge of a language or subject (对某种语言或学科的)肤浅知识,略知,浅知 Edward had only a smattering of Welsh. 爱德华对威尔士语只略知一二。 ■a small amount of something 少数,些许 a smattering of snow. 零星小雪。
语源
mid 16th cent.: from smatter 'talk ignorantly, prate' (surviving in Scots), of unknown origin