Nearby Words
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.
:10
:09
:08
:07
:06
:05
:04
:03
:02
:01
Diffuse
is an SAT word you need to know.
So is abaft. Does it mean:
| in the direction of the stern; astern; aft |
| speak harmful untruths about |
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; Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Latin diffūsus spread, poured forth. See dif-, fuse2
1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Latin diffūsus spread, poured forth. See dif-, fuse2
Related forms
dif·fuse·ness, noun
in·ter·dif·fuse, verb, -fused, -fus·ing.
non·dif·fuse, adjective
non·dif·fused, adjective
EXPANDnon·dif·fus·ing, adjective
o·ver·dif·fuse, verb, -fused, -fus·ing, adjective
o·ver·dif·fuse·ly, adverb
o·ver·dif·fuse·ness, noun
re·dif·fuse, verb, -fused, -fus·ing.
un·dif·fused, adjective
well-dif·fused, adjective
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To diffuse
Example Sentences
- One way is to diffuse the situation by empathizing.
- It tends to diffuse arguments quickly, as we both start laughing uncontrollably.
- They are too hot and too diffuse in the intergalactic clouds to be detected by optical telescopes.
Collins
World English Dictionary
| diffuse | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to spread or cause to spread in all directions |
| 2. | to undergo or cause to undergo diffusion |
| 3. | to scatter or cause to scatter; disseminate; disperse |
| —adj | |
| 4. | spread out over a wide area |
| 5. | lacking conciseness |
| 6. | (esp of some creeping stems) spreading loosely over a large area |
| 7. | characterized by or exhibiting diffusion: diffuse light; diffuse reflection |
| 8. | botany (of plant growth) occurring throughout a tissue |
| [C15: from Latin diffūsus spread abroad, from diffundere to pour forth, from dis- away + fundere to pour] | |
| diffusely | |
| —adv | |
| dif'fuseness | |
| —n | |
| diffusible | |
| —adj | |
| diffusi'bility | |
| —n | |
| dif'fusibleness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
diffuse
1520s (trans.), 1650s (intrans.), from L. diffus-, pp. stem of diffundere "to pour out or away" (see diffusion). Related: Diffused; diffusing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
American Heritage
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.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.