disperse

[dih-spurs]

verb (used with object)

dispersed, dispersing 

1. to drive or send off in various directions; scatter.

   to disperse a crowd.

   Antonyms: collect, combine

2. to spread widely; disseminate.

   to disperse knowledge.

   Synonyms: broadcast, sow

3. to dispel; cause to vanish.

   The wind dispersed the fog.

4. Physical Chemistry.,  to cause (particles) to separate uniformly throughout a solid, liquid, or gas.

5. Optics.,  to subject (light) to dispersion.

verb (used without object)

dispersed, dispersing 

1. to separate and move apart in different directions without order or regularity; become scattered.

   The crowd dispersed.

2. to be dispelled; be scattered out of sight; vanish.

   The smoke dispersed into the sky.

   Synonyms: evanesce, disappear

adjective

1. Physical Chemistry.,  noting the dispersed particles in a dispersion.

disperse

/ dɪˈspɜːsɪdlɪ, dɪˈspɜːs /

verb

1. to scatter; distribute over a wide area

2. to dissipate or cause to dissipate

3. to leave or cause to leave a gathering, often in a random manner

4. to separate or be separated by dispersion

5. (tr) to diffuse or spread (news, information, etc)

6. to separate (particles) throughout a solid, liquid, or gas, as in the formation of a suspension or colloid

adjective

1. of or consisting of the particles in a colloid or suspension

   disperse phase

Other Word Forms

• dispersedly adverb
• disperser noun
• dispersibility noun
• dispersible adjective
• predisperse verb (used with object)
• redisperse verb
• undispersed adjective
• undispersing adjective
• well-dispersed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disperse¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English dispersen, disparsen (from Middle French disperser, ) from Latin dispersus (past participle of dispergere ), equivalent to di- di- ² + -sper(g)- “scatter” (stem of -spergere, combining form of spargere “to scatter, strew”) + -sus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of disperse¹

C14: from Latin dispērsus scattered, from dispergere to scatter widely, from _di- ² + spargere to strew

Synonym Study

See scatter.

Example Sentences

They contribute to disperse energy and matter throughout the universe and can influence the evolution of entire galaxies.

Read more on Science Daily

Security forces used water cannons and pepper spray to disperse demonstrators.

Read more on BBC

"If we do locate a shark, we can then tell the lifeguard and they can go out and actively disperse the shark with a jet ski or we can evacuate the water."

Read more on BBC

Security forces have maintained a heavy presence across Antananarivo and other major cities, with police using tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesters.

Read more on BBC

Then the officers dispersed, and the standoff resumed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• break up 
• circulate 
• diffuse 
• disappear 
• disband 
• discharge 
• dislodge 
• dispel 
• dissipate 
• dissolve 
• scatter 
• separate 
• spray 
• spread 
• vanish