Spatter suggests drops were not intentionally thrown, often resulting from an action like painting. While frying the chicken, oil started to spatter out of the pan.
Pro Tip 2/3
Visual Imagery
Use 'spatter' to vividly describe scenes in a story, emphasizing the random spread of liquid. The crime scene was eerie, with spatter of red visible on the white walls.
Pro Tip 3/3
Small Quantity
'Spatter' involves small droplets, not large amounts of liquid. After the toast, champagne spattered lightly onto the nearby tablecloth.