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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
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.
diffuze. [L., to pour, to spread.]
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

  • enPR: dĭfyo͞oz'
  • (UK) IPA(key): /dɪˈfjuːz/
  • (US) IPA(key): /dɪˈfjuz/
  • Rhymes: -uːz
  • 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.
    • Whewell
      We find this knowledge diffused among all civilized nations.
  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
Synonyms
Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English *diffuse (attested in adverb diffuseli), from Latin diffūsus.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: dĭfyo͞os'
  • (UK) IPA(key): /dɪˈfjuːs/
  • (US) IPA(key): /dɪˈfjus/
  • Rhymes: -uːs

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
Translations

Related terms

References

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

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /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 singular of diffus

German

Adjective

diffuse

  1. inflected form of diffus

Italian

Verb

diffuse

  1. third-person singular past historic of diffondere

Participle

diffuse

  1. feminine plural of diffuso

Adjective

diffuse

  1. feminine plural of diffuso

Latin

Etymology

From diffūsus (scattered, spread)

Adverb

diffūsē (comparable diffūsius, superlative diffūsissimē)

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

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)