The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word SMATTERING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
S
M
A
T
T
E
R
I
N
G
More clues leading to the result SMATTERING
- What a shopper might do to grab stuff and dash
- Bit of trouble cutting grass
- A little thing blocking pipe
- Trace substance in pipe
- Superficial knowledge of subject Carol possesses
- Carol hoards stuff, just a few scraps
- Material in carol needs a bit of learning
- Superficial understanding shown by second of concern?
- Bit of stuff in chorus perhaps
- Spill the beans about affair a bit
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Superficial knowledge" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case superficial knowledge = smattering.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SMATTERING mean?
SMATTERING noun- A superficial or shallow knowledge of a subject.
- A small number or amount of something.
- To talk superficially; to babble, chatter.
- To speak (a language) with spotty or superficial knowledge.
- To study or approach superficially; to dabble in.
- To have a slight taste, or a slight, superficial knowledge, of anything; to smack.