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diffuse Definition

dif·fuse (di fyo̵̅o̅s′; for v., -fyo̵̅o̅z′)

adjective

  1. spread out or dispersed; not concentrated
  2. using more words than are needed; long-winded; wordy

Etymology: ME < L diffusus, pp. of diffundere, to pour in different directions < dis-, apart + fundere, to pour: see found

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·fused′, -·fus′·ing

  1. to pour, spread out, or disperse in every direction; spread or scatter widely
  2. Physics to mix by diffusion, as gases, liquids, etc.

diffuse Related Forms

dif·fuse′ly adverb dif·fuse′·ness noun

diffuse Synonyms

diffuse

modif.

  1. Widely separated

    dispersed, thin, diluted; see distributed, scattered.

  2. Rambling and dull

    discursive, prolix, wordy; see verbose. See syn. study at wordy.

diffuse Synonyms

diffuse

v.

spread, disperse, distribute; see scatter 1, 2.

diffuse Usage Examples

Object

  • sunlight: Daylight, or diffused sunlight, is the most obvious source.
  • tension: Food security can diffuse tensions and can be used as a tool to bring peace.
  • situation: The assessors from Lehman's wanted to see how I would diffuse the situation, ' she said.
  • pollution: More recently his research has concerned with water quality in relation to diffuse pollution and its alleviation through the implementation of best management practice.
  • bomb: We feel addressing the problems with a structured and planned strategy for the future will diffuse the pensions time bomb.
  • light: You should try to diffuse the light or angle it at roughly a forty five degree angle.

Preposition: in

direction: In this way, the PM is permitted to diffuse only in an outward direction.

Modifies a noun

  • thickening: There is a diffuse thickening of the gastric wall.
  • scattering: Thus the observed diffuse scattering can be assumed to be almost entirely from phonon scattering.
  • reflectance: When the light is reflected by diffusion then the reflectance is called diffuse reflectance.
  • pollution: For example, diffuse pollution which results from the way in which land is managed falls within the scope of the Directive.
  • mesothelioma: There is no 15 week waiting period for the prescribed disease diffuse mesothelioma.
  • lymphoma: The most common histological type is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Modifying Another Word

  • universally: The Secret Doctrine was the universally diffused religion of the ancient and prehistoric world.
  • widely: His name is very widely diffused among the Norse people.
  • rapidly: This produces a very narrow gap across which oxygen and carbon dioxide can rapidly diffuse.
  • freely: The membrane is fluid, with individual lipid molecules able to diffuse freely within the bilayer.
  • slowly: The active ingredient diffuses slowly through the coating giving good residual control.
  • somewhat: The spatial area covered by this project is, by virtue of the patchy nature of the data, somewhat diffuse.

Preposition: through

membrane: That sugar and ions ( like sodium ) can diffuse through cell membranes.