diffuse

[ verb dih-fyooz; adjective dih-fyoos ]

verb (used with object)

, dif·fused, dif·fusing.

1. to pour out and spread, as a fluid.
2. to spread or scatter widely or thinly; disseminate.
3. Physics. to spread by diffusion.

verb (used without object)

, dif·fused, dif·fusing.

1. to spread.
2. Physics. to intermingle by diffusion.

adjective

1. characterized by great length or discursiveness in speech or writing; wordy.
2. widely spread or scattered; dispersed.
3. Botany. widely or loosely spreading.
4. Optics. (of reflected light) scattered, as from a rough surface ( specular ).

diffuse

/ dɪˈfjuːzəbəl; dɪˈfjuːslɪ /

verb

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

adjective

1. spread out over a wide area
2. lacking conciseness
3. (esp of some creeping stems) spreading loosely over a large area
4. characterized by or exhibiting diffusion

   diffuse reflection

   diffuse light

5. botany (of plant growth) occurring throughout a tissue

Usage

See defuse

Derived Forms

• diffusely, adverb
• difˈfuseness, noun
• difˌfusiˈbility, noun
• diffusible, adjective

Other Words From

• dif·fuse·ly [dih-, fyoos, -lee], adverb
• dif·fuseness noun
• inter·dif·fuse verb interdiffused interdiffusing
• nondif·fuse adjective
• nondif·fused adjective
• nondif·fusing adjective
• over·dif·fuse verb overdiffused overdiffusing adjective
• over·dif·fusely adverb
• over·dif·fuseness noun
• redif·fuse verb rediffused rediffusing
• undif·fused adjective
• well-dif·fused adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diffuse¹

1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Latin diffūsus spread, poured forth. See dif-, fuse ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of diffuse¹

C15: from Latin diffūsus spread abroad, from diffundere to pour forth, from dis- away + fundere to pour

Example Sentences

The media environment is more diffuse than ever, and right-wing media has flourished in ways that Democrats are only beginning to grasp.

From Slate

Meanwhile, the pro-democracy coalition is diffuse and leaderless but is helped by the fact that it's less crazy.

From Salon

Asking if someone is a member is “actually the wrong question,” she said, “based on a misunderstanding about how ideas and social movements work. The NAR is incredibly diffuse by design.”

From Salon

This makes the sky look more orange, BBC forecaster Gareth Burleigh-Harvey says, as the smoke particles diffuse the sunlight.

From BBC

Minor adjustments in form and using props can alter the level of difficulty of an exercise or diffuse pain.

From Los Angeles Times