diffusive

[ dih-fyoo-siv ]

adjective

1. tending to diffuse; characterized by diffusion.

diffusive

/ dɪˈfjuːsɪv /

adjective

1. characterized by diffusion

Derived Forms

• difˈfusiveness, noun
• difˈfusively, adverb

Other Words From

• dif·fusive·ly adverb
• dif·fusive·ness noun
• inter·dif·fusive adjective
• inter·dif·fusive·ness noun
• self-dif·fusive adjective
• self-dif·fusive·ly adverb
• self-dif·fusive·ness noun
• undif·fusive adjective
• undif·fusive·ly adverb
• undif·fusive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of diffusive¹

First recorded in 1605–15; diffuse + -ive

Example Sentences

No spoilers — but “Middlemarch” serves nicely again: “The effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive.”

From New York Times

“This could be very useful for understanding other systems. For example, Earth’s and planetary magnetospheres, other magnetized plasma sources, including experiments at laboratory scales where plasma is highly diffusive and very hard to control.”

From Fox News

We now know that electron flow can be diffusive, ballistic or viscous, and that there are experimental tools for differentiating between these regimes.

From Nature

This diffusive feature is actually what puts the “liberal” in liberal democracy and liberal capitalism.

From The Guardian

Instead, we get extended sensory descriptions of life on Lefkáda, memories that glow through a diffusive haze of metaphor.

From The New Yorker

Related Words

• late
• lengthy
• protracted
• slow