Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Dissipate
Dis′si-pate
,Verb.
I.
1.
To separate into parts and disappear; to waste away; to scatter; to disperse; to vanish;
as, a fog or cloud gradually
dissipates
before the rays or heat of the sun; the heat of a body dissipates
.2.
To be extravagant, wasteful, or dissolute in the pursuit of pleasure; to engage in dissipation.
Webster 1828 Edition
Dissipate
DISSIPATE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To scatter; to disperse; to drive asunder. Wind dissipates fog; the heat of the sun dissipates vapor; mirth dissipates care and anxiety; the cares of life tend to dissipate serious reflections. Scatter, disperse and dissipate are in many cases synonymous; but dissipate is used appropriately to denote the dispersion of things that vanish, or are not afterwards collected; as, to dissipate fog, vapor or clouds. We say, an army is scattered or dispersed, but not dissipated. Trees are scattered or dispersed over a field, but not dissipated.2.
To expend; to squander; to scatter property in wasteful extravagance; to waste; to consume; as, a man has dissipated his fortune in the pursuit of pleasure.3.
To scatter the attention.DISSIPATE
,Verb.
I.
A fog or cloud gradually dissipates, before the rays or heat of the sun. The heat of a body dissipates; the fluids dissipate.