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Webster 1913 Edition
Diffuse
Dif-fuse′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Diffused
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Diffusing
.] [L.
diffusus
, p. p. of diffundere
to pour out, to diffuse; dif- = dis-
+ fundere
to pour. See Fuse
to melt.] To pour out and cause to spread, as a fluid; to cause to flow on all sides; to send out, or extend, in all directions; to spread; to circulate; to disseminate; to scatter; as to diffuse information.
Thence
His good to worlds and ages infinite.
diffuse
His good to worlds and ages infinite.
Milton.
Syn. – To expand; spread; circulate; extend; scatter; disperse; publish; proclaim.
Dif-fuse′
,Verb.
I.
To pass by spreading every way, to diffuse itself.
Dif-fuse′
,Adj.
[L.
diffusus
, p. p.] Poured out; widely spread; not restrained; copious; full; esp., of style, opposed to
concise
or terse
; verbose; prolix; as, a
diffuse
style; a diffuse
writer.
Syn. – Prolix; verbose; wide; copious; full. See
Prolix
. Webster 1828 Edition
Diffuse
DIFFUSE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To pour out and spread, as a fluid; to cause to flow and spread.The river rose and diffused its waters over the adjacent plain.
2.
To spread; to send out or extend in all directions; to disperse. Flowers diffuse their odors. The fame of Washington is diffused over Europe. The knowledge of the true God will be diffused over the earth.DIFFUSE
,Adj.
1.
Widely spread; dispersed.2.
Copious; prolix; using many words; giving full descriptions; as, Livy is a diffuse writer.3.
Copious; verbose; containing full or particular accounts; concise; as a diffuse style.Definition 2024
diffuse
diffuse
See also: diffusé
English
Pronunciation
Verb
diffuse (third-person singular simple present diffuses, present participle diffusing, simple past and past participle diffused)
- (transitive) To spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means.
- Whewell
- We find this knowledge diffused among all civilized nations.
- Whewell
- (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
Synonyms
Translations
To spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means
|
To be spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means
|
Etymology 2
From Middle English *diffuse (attested in adverb diffuseli), from Latin diffūsus.
Pronunciation
Adjective
diffuse (comparative more diffuse, superlative most diffuse)
- Everywhere or throughout everything; not focused or concentrated.
- Such a diffuse effort is unlikely to produce good results.
Derived terms
Translations
not concentrated
Related terms
References
- diffuse in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /difyz/
Verb
diffuse
- first-person singular present indicative of diffuser
- third-person singular present indicative of diffuser
- first-person singular present subjunctive of diffuser
- third-person singular present subjunctive of diffuser
- second-person singular imperative of diffuser
Adjective
diffuse
- feminine singular of diffus
Italian
Verb
diffuse
- third-person singular past historic of diffondere
Participle
diffuse
- feminine plural of diffuso
Adjective
diffuse
- feminine plural of diffuso
Latin
Etymology
From diffūsus (“scattered, spread”)
Adverb
diffūsē (comparable diffūsius, superlative diffūsissimē)
Related terms
References
- diffuse in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, 1st edition. (Oxford University Press)