lit·ter / ˈlitər/ • n. 1. trash, such as paper, cans, and bottles, that is left lying in an open or public place: fines for dropping litter. ∎  [in sing.] an untidy collection of things lying about: a litter of sleeping bags on the floor.2. the group of young animals born to an animal at one time: a litter of five kittens.3. material forming a surface-covering layer, in particular: ∎  (also cat litter ) granular absorbent material lining a tray where a cat can urinate and defecate when indoors. ∎  straw or other plant matter used as bedding for animals. ∎  (also leaf litter) decomposing but recognizable leaves and other debris forming a layer on top of the soil, esp. in forests.4. hist. a vehicle containing a bed or seat enclosed by curtains and carried on men's shoulders or by animals. ∎  a stretcher, for transporting the sick and wounded.• v. [tr.] 1. make (a place) untidy with rubbish or a large number of objects left lying about: clothes and newspapers littered the floor. ∎  (usu. be littered) leave (rubbish or a number of objects) lying untidily in a place: there was broken glass littered about. ∎  (usu. be littered with) fig. fill (a text, history, etc.) with examples of something unpleasant: news pages have been littered with doom and gloom about company collapses.2. archaic provide (a horse or other animal) with litter as bedding.DERIVATIVES: lit·ter·er n.

litter

litter Dead organic matter in the soil that has not yet decomposed. It consists of fallen leaves and other plant remains (leaf litter), animal excrement, etc. After decomposition by decomposers and detritivores litter becomes humus.

litter †bed XIII; portable couch XIV; straw, etc., for bedding; number of young brought forth at a birth XV; disorderly accumulation of things XVIII. — AN. litere, (O)F. litière :- medL. lectāria, f. lectus bed; see LIE1.
Hence vb. furnish (horse, etc.) with litter XIV. bring forth (young) XV; strew with or as litter XVIII.

Litter

the young brought forth at one time by a sow or similar animal; a disorderly cumulation of papers; rubbish, 1730.

Examples: litter of children, 1704; of constitutions, 1796; of kittens; of lions, 1734; of opinions, 1662; of pamphlets, 1688; of pigs, 1604—Brewer, of rabbits, 1802; of sins, 1639; of whelps, 1486; of women, 1860.

litter (L-layer) An accumulation of dead plant remains on the soil surface.