disperse

[ dih-spurs ]

verb (used with object)

, dis·persed, dis·pers·ing.

1. to drive or send off in various directions; scatter:

   to disperse a crowd.

   Antonyms: collect, combine

2. to spread widely; disseminate:

   to disperse knowledge.

   Synonyms: broadcast, sow

3. to dispel; cause to vanish:

   The wind dispersed the fog.

4. Physical Chemistry. to cause (particles) to separate uniformly throughout a solid, liquid, or gas.
5. Optics. to subject (light) to dispersion.

verb (used without object)

, dis·persed, dis·pers·ing.

1. to separate and move apart in different directions without order or regularity; become scattered:

   The crowd dispersed.

2. to be dispelled; be scattered out of sight; vanish:

   The smoke dispersed into the sky.

   Synonyms: evanesce, disappear

adjective

1. Physical Chemistry. noting the dispersed particles in a dispersion.

disperse

/ dɪˈspɜːsɪdlɪ; dɪˈspɜːs /

verb

1. to scatter; distribute over a wide area
2. to dissipate or cause to dissipate
3. to leave or cause to leave a gathering, often in a random manner
4. to separate or be separated by dispersion
5. tr to diffuse or spread (news, information, etc)
6. to separate (particles) throughout a solid, liquid, or gas, as in the formation of a suspension or colloid

adjective

1. of or consisting of the particles in a colloid or suspension

   disperse phase

Usage

See disburse

Derived Forms

• disˈperser, noun
• dispersedly, adverb

Other Words From

• dis·persed·ly [dih-, spur, -sid-lee], adverb
• dis·perser noun
• dis·persi·bili·ty noun
• dis·persi·ble adjective
• predis·perse verb (used with object) predispersed predispersing
• redis·perse verb redispersed redispersing
• undis·persed adjective
• undis·persing adjective
• well-dis·persed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disperse¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English dispersen, disparsen (from Middle French disperser, ) from Latin dispersus (past participle of dispergere ), equivalent to di- di- ² + -sper(g)- “scatter” (stem of -spergere, combining form of spargere “to scatter, strew”) + -sus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of disperse¹

C14: from Latin dispērsus scattered, from dispergere to scatter widely, from di- ² + spargere to strew

Synonym Study

See scatter.

Example Sentences

After opposition protesters, many of them students, set up tents and barriers near Tbilisi State University, police moved in early on Tuesday to disperse them by force.

From BBC

Aslan Bzhania's press office said he was quitting "to maintain stability and constitutional order" and that the two sides had agreed protesters who had stormed the parliament in Sukhumi must disperse on Tuesday.

From BBC

It was all over in about an hour, with people toward the back of the line dispersing once it became clear they wouldn’t make the cutoff.

From Los Angeles Times

The civil guard and mounted officers were later seen attempting to disperse the angry crowd.

From BBC

Shortly after fertilization, the larvae become mobile and are capable of coordinated swimming as they disperse in the water column.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• break up
• circulate
• diffuse
• disappear
• disband
• discharge
• dislodge
• dispel
• dissipate
• dissolve
• scatter
• separate
• spray
• spread
• vanish