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dissipate definition

dis·si·pate (dis′ə pāt′)

transitive verb dissipated -·pat′ed, dissipating -·pat′·ing

  1. to break up and scatter; dispel; disperse
  2. to drive completely away; make disappear
  3. to waste or squander

Etymology: ME dissipaten < L dissipatus, pp. of dissipare, to scatter < dis-, apart + supare, to throw < IE base *swep- > Sans svapū, broom, LowG swabbeln, to swab

intransitive verb

  1. to be dissipated; disperse or vanish
  2. to spend much time and energy on indulgence in pleasure, esp. drinking, gambling, etc., to the point of harming oneself

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

dissipate Synonyms

dissipate

v.

  1. To dispel

    scatter, disperse, diffuse, disseminate; see scatter 2.

  2. To squander

    use up, consume, misuse; see spend 1, waste 1, 2.

  3. To vanish

    evanesce, melt away, run dry; see disappear, evaporate 1. See syn. study at scatter.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

dissipate Usage Examples

Object

  • heat: The heatsink's job is to dissipate the heat to keep the CPU from overheating.

Preposition: over

  • time: JB: Change takes time and creates anxiety â that fear can dissipate over time if we talk about it.

Preposition: into

  • air: Unlike inside the bar itself, the huge cloud of smoke produced by everyone's cigarettes dissipates into the night air.

Adjective complement

  • due: Some of our concern about the national denominations will dissipate due to this dismantling of bureaucracies.

Modifying Another Word

  • gradually: A: All foam products have a slight scent at first which will dissipate gradually.
dissipate usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"dissipate." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/dissipate>

APA Style

dissipate. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/dissipate

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