diffuse

American  

[dih-fyooz, dih-fyoos] / dɪˈfyuz, dɪˈfyus /

verb (used with object)

diffused, diffusing

1. to pour out and spread, as a fluid.

2. to spread or scatter widely or thinly; disseminate.

3. Physics. to spread by diffusion.

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verb (used without object)

diffused, diffusing

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 British  

/ 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

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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 light

   diffuse reflection

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

Commonly Confused

See defuse

Other Word Forms

• diffusely adverb
• diffuseness noun
• diffusibility noun
• diffusible adjective
• interdiffuse verb
• nondiffuse adjective
• nondiffused adjective
• nondiffusing adjective
• overdiffuse verb
• overdiffusely adverb
• overdiffuseness noun
• rediffuse verb
• undiffused adjective
• well-diffused adjective

Etymology

Origin of diffuse

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

Example Sentences

Conversely, Eurasian crops that were first domesticated far from the Fertile Crescent but at the same latitudes were able to diffuse back to the Fertile Crescent.

From Literature

I tried to smile to diffuse the situation but I was completely baffled.

From Literature

Guilt rises in me hard and fast and I feel my head bobbing up and down reflexively, trying to diffuse a situation that’s going downhill fast.

From Literature

The result is that the C11 — an extension — has a more diffuse, jazzy, or impressionistic sound.

From Literature

The smell of paint and turpentine blanketed the air, and diffuse light streamed through the windows.

From Literature