diffuse

See also diffusé

English

Wikipedia

Etymology 1

Middle English, from Latin diffusus, past participle of diffundere, from dis- + fundere

Pronunciation

• AHD: dĭfyo͞oz', IPA: /dɪˈfjuːz/ (UK), /dɪˈfjuz/ (US), SAMPA: /dIˈfju:z/ (UK), /dIˈfjuz/ (US)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːs
• Homophone: defuse

Verb

diffuse (third-person singular simple present diffuses, present participle diffusing, simple past and past participle diffused)

1. (transitive) To spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means.
2. (intransitive) To be spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means.

   Food coloring diffuses in water.

   The riot diffused quite suddenly.

Derived terms

• diffuser

Translations

To spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means

Bulgarian: разпръсвам (bg), разсейвам (bg), разпространявам (bg) Finnish: levittää (fi), hajottaa (fi) French: diffuser (fr)

Norwegian: diffundere (no) Portuguese: difuso m, difusa f

To be spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means

Bulgarian: разпръсвам се (bg), разсейвам се (bg) Finnish: levitä (fi), hajota (fi), hajaantua (fi), (science) diffundoitua (fi)

Norwegian: diffundere (no) Portuguese: difuso m, difusa f

Etymology 2

Latin diffusus

Pronunciation

• AHD: dĭfyo͞os', IPA: /dɪˈfjuːs/ (UK), /dɪˈfjus/ (US), SAMPA: /dIˈfju:s/ (UK), /dIˈfjus/ (US)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːz

Adjective

diffuse (comparative more diffuse, superlative most diffuse)

1. Everywhere or throughout everything; not focused or concentrated.

   Such a diffuse effort is unlikely to produce good results.

Derived terms

• diffusely

Translations

not concentrated

Bulgarian: дифузен (bg), разсеян (bg) Finnish: hajaantunut, hajanainen, lavea, (science) diffuusi (fi) French: diffus (fr)

Norwegian: diffus (no) Portuguese: difuso (pt)

Related terms

• diffusion

References

• diffuse in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

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French

Pronunciation

• IPA: /difyz/

Verb

diffuse

1. first-person singular present indicative of diffuser
2. third-person singular present indicative of diffuser
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of diffuser
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of diffuser
5. second-person singular imperative of diffuser

Adjective

diffuse

1. feminine form of diffus

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Italian

Verb

diffuse

1. third-person singular past historic of diffondere

diffuse f. pl.

1. feminine plural form of diffuso

Adjective

diffuse f. pl.

1. feminine plural form of diffuso

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Latin

Etymology

From diffūsus (“scattered, spread”)

Adverb

diffūsē (comparative diffūsius, superlative diffūsissimē)

1. diffusely, in a scattered manner.
2. copiously, fully

Related terms

• diffūsus

References

• Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, 1st edition. (Oxford University Press)