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Diffuse

 - 5 dictionary results

dif⋅fuse

  [v. di-fyooz; adj. di-fyoos] verb, -fused, -fusing, adjective
Use Diffuse in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to pour out and spread, as a fluid.
2. to spread or scatter widely or thinly; disseminate.
3. Physics. to spread by diffusion.
–verb (used without object)
4. to spread.
5. Physics. to intermingle by diffusion.
–adjective
6. characterized by great length or discursiveness in speech or writing; wordy.
7. widely spread or scattered; dispersed.
8. Botany. widely or loosely spreading.
9. Optics. (of reflected light) scattered, as from a rough surface (opposed to specular ).
Origin:
1350–1400; ME (< AF) < L diffūsus spread, poured forth. See dif-, fuse 2

Related forms:
dif⋅fuse⋅ly  [di-fyoos-lee] , adverb
dif⋅fuse⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Diffuse
dif·fuse   (dĭ-fyōōz')   
v.   dif·fused, dif·fus·ing, dif·fus·es

v.   tr.

  1. To pour out and cause to spread freely.

  2. To spread about or scatter; disseminate.

  3. To make less brilliant; soften.

v.   intr.

  1. To become widely dispersed; spread out.

  2. Physics To undergo diffusion.

adj.   (dĭ-fyōōs')

  1. Widely spread or scattered; not concentrated.

  2. Characterized by verbosity; wordy. See Synonyms at wordy.


[From Middle English, dispersed, from Anglo-Norman diffus, from Latin diffūsus, past participle of diffundere, to spread : dis-, out, apart; see dis- + fundere, to pour; see gheu- in Indo-European roots.]
dif·fuse'ly (-fyōōs'lē) adv., dif·fuse'ness (-fyōōs'nĭs) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1dif·fuse
Pronunciation: dif-'yüs
Function: adjective
: not concentrated or localized <diffuse sclerosis>

Main Entry: 2dif·fuse
Pronunciation: dif-'yüz
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: dif·fused; dif·fus·ing
transitive senses
1 : to subject (as a light beam) to diffusion
2 : to break up and distribute (incident light) by reflection (as from a rough surface)diffuse intransitive senses
: to undergo diffusion
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

diffuse dif·fuse (dĭ-fy&oomacr;s')
adj.
Not limited to one tissue or location; widespread. v. dif·fused, dif·fus·ing, dif·fus·es (dĭ-fy&oomacr;z')
To spread or to be spread widely, as through a tissue.

dif·fus'i·ble (-fy&oomacr;'zə-bəl) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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