suffuse

[ suh-fyooz ]

verb (used with object)

, suf·fused, suf·fus·ing.

1. to overspread with or as with a liquid, color, etc.

   Synonyms: flood, bathe, diffuse, pervade, cover

suffuse

/ səˈfjuːʒən; səˈfjuːz /

verb

1. tr; usually passive to spread or flood through or over (something)

   the evening sky was suffused with red

Derived Forms

• sufˈfusive, adjective
• suffusion, noun

Other Words From

• suf·fused·ly [s, uh, -, fyoozd, -lee, -, fyoo, -zid-], adverb
• suf·fu·sion [s, uh, -, fyoo, -zh, uh, n], noun
• suf·fu·sive [s, uh, -, fyoo, -siv], adjective
• unsuf·fused adjective
• unsuf·fusive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffuse¹

First recorded in 1580–90, suffuse is from the Latin word suffūsus (past participle of suffundere ). See suf-, fuse ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffuse¹

C16: from Latin suffūsus overspread with, from suffundere, from sub- + fundere to pour

Example Sentences

This Veterans Day, we should reflect on the population of veterans who were discharged in a process that is still suffused with subjective notions of honor and shame.

From Los Angeles Times

The scene at Howard was suffused with nervous energy, much of it directed toward a large screen showing CNN’s election coverage.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s an alternately tender and forbidding set of electronic rock jams slathered with digital effects and suffused with thoughts of collapse both personal and political.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet the geomagnetic storm will also put on a beautiful show, with skies suffused in hues of green, red, pink and other colors.

From Salon

He looked dazed, his blue eyes suffused with red.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bathe
• permeate
• saturate
• steep
• tinge