diffuse

[dih-fyooz, dih-fyoos]

verb (used with object)

diffused, diffusing 

1. to pour out and spread, as a fluid.

2. to spread or scatter widely or thinly; disseminate.

3. Physics.,  to spread by diffusion.

verb (used without object)

diffused, diffusing 

1. to spread.

2. Physics.,  to intermingle by diffusion.

adjective

1. characterized by great length or discursiveness in speech or writing; wordy.

2. widely spread or scattered; dispersed.

3. Botany.,  widely or loosely spreading.

4. Optics.,  (of reflected light) scattered, as from a rough surface (specular ).

diffuse

/ dɪˈfjuːzəbəl, dɪˈfjuːslɪ /

verb

1. to spread or cause to spread in all directions

2. to undergo or cause to undergo diffusion

3. to scatter or cause to scatter; disseminate; disperse

adjective

1. spread out over a wide area

2. lacking conciseness

3. (esp of some creeping stems) spreading loosely over a large area

4. characterized by or exhibiting diffusion

   diffuse light

   diffuse reflection

5. botany (of plant growth) occurring throughout a tissue

Confusables Note

See defuse

Other Word Forms

• diffusely adverb
• diffuseness noun
• interdiffuse verb
• nondiffuse adjective
• nondiffused adjective
• nondiffusing adjective
• overdiffuse verb
• overdiffusely adverb
• overdiffuseness noun
• rediffuse verb
• undiffused adjective
• well-diffused adjective
• diffusibility noun
• diffusible adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diffuse¹

1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Latin diffūsus spread, poured forth. See dif-, fuse ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of diffuse¹

C15: from Latin diffūsus spread abroad, from diffundere to pour forth, from dis- away + fundere to pour

Example Sentences

The heated confrontation between the defensive duo was sparked by the concession of a late goal and diffused by the Gunners' backroom staff.

Read more on BBC

As MacGruber, a riff on the equal parts cheesy and crafty ’80s television hero MacGyver, Forte attempted to diffuse a ticking time bomb while being distracted by the possible release of the Epstein files.

Read more on Salon

The diffuse structure of nonlinear novels engaged readers in a new and unexpected way, inviting them to piece together scattered episodes in the manner of a jigsaw puzzle.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The suspension of assembly lines at JLR hit a diffuse network of suppliers, many of them small and financially fragile, that ship parts to its factories.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Its west-facing windows diffuse the room with a coat of hazy light.

Read more on Los Angeles Times