diffuse

diffuse
verb dɪ'fju:z spread over a wide area.
Physics intermingle with another substance by movement of particles.
adjective dɪ'fju:s
1》 spread out over a large area; not concentrated.
    ↘(of disease) not localized in the body.
2》 lacking clarity or conciseness.
Derivatives
diffusely dɪ'fju:sli adverb
diffuseness dɪ'fju:snɪs noun
diffuser (also diffusor) noun
diffusible adjective
Origin
ME: from L. diffus-, diffundere 'pour out'; the adjective is via Fr. diffus or L. diffusus 'extensive'.
Usage
The verbs diffuse and defuse sound similar but have different meanings. Diffuse means ‘spread over a wide area’, while defuse means ‘reduce the danger or tension in’. Thus sentences such as Cooper successfully diffused the situation are wrong, while Cooper successfully defused the situation would be correct.

English new terms dictionary. 2014.

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  • Diffuse — Dif*fuse , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Diffused}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Diffusing}.] [L. diffusus, p. p. of diffundere to pour out, to diffuse; dif = dis + fundere to pour. See {Fuse} to melt.] To pour out and cause to spread, as a fluid; to cause to flow on …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Diffuse — Dif*fuse , a. [L. diffusus, p. p.] Poured out; widely spread; not restrained; copious; full; esp., of style, opposed to {concise} or {terse}; verbose; prolix; as, a diffuse style; a diffuse writer. [1913 Webster] A diffuse and various knowledge… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Diffuse — Dif*fuse , v. i. To pass by spreading every way, to diffuse itself. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • diffusé — diffusé, ée (di ffu zé, zée) part. passé. Terme didactique. Répandu par diffusion. •   Les plantes montrèrent combien est rapide l action de la lumière qu elles reçoivent comme par une sorte de sens diffusé dans leurs corolles, FAYE Comptes… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • diffuse — adj prolix, redundant, verbose, *wordy Analogous words: *profuse, lavish, exuberant: desultory, casual, *random: copious (see PLENTIFUL): *loose, relaxed, slack, lax Antonyms: succinct Contrasted words: * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • diffuse — [adj1] spread out broadcast, catholic, circulated, diluted, dispersed, disseminated, distributed, expanded, extended, general, prevalent, propagated, radiated, scattered, separated, strewn, thin, unconcentrated, universal, widespread; concepts… …   New thesaurus

  • diffuse — I verb bespread, besprinkle, bestrew, break up, broadcast, cast forth, circulate, circumfuse, commingle, deal out, decentralize, diffundere, diffundi, disband, disintegrate, disperse, dispread, disseminate, dissipate, distribute, effuse, go in… …   Law dictionary

  • diffuse — (v.) 1520s (trans.), 1650s (intrans.), from L. diffusus, pp. of diffundere to pour out or away (see DIFFUSION (Cf. diffusion)). Related: Diffused; diffusing. The adj. is attested from early 15c., from L. diffusus …   Etymology dictionary

  • diffuse — ► VERB 1) spread over a wide area. 2) Physics (of a gas or liquid) travel or spread by diffusion. ► ADJECTIVE 1) spread out over a large area; not concentrated. 2) lacking clarity or conciseness. DERIVATIVES diffusely adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • diffuse — [di fyo͞os′; ] for v. [, difyo͞oz′] adj. [ME < L diffusus, pp. of diffundere, to pour in different directions < dis , apart + fundere, to pour: see FOUND2] 1. spread out or dispersed; not concentrated 2. using more words than are needed;… …   English World dictionary

  • diffuse — diffuses, diffusing, diffused (The verb is pronounced [[t]dɪfju͟ːz[/t]]. The adjective is pronounced [[t]dɪfju͟ːs[/t]].) 1) V ERG If something such as knowledge or information is diffused, or if it diffuses somewhere, it is made known over a wide …   English dictionary

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