diffuse

American  

[dih-fyooz, dih-fyoos] / dɪˈfyuz, dɪˈfyus /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

Commonly Confused

See defuse

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of diffuse

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

Example Sentences

On “Quotidien,” the audience is seated in a circle around the stars, which calls for the studio lights to be spread out around them, creating a softer, more diffused effect.

From The Wall Street Journal

“My worry is about whether the benefits of AI will diffuse to all people.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The light came from within it, a cold-glowing green light with yellow edges that diffused the shape, making it change and grow as I watched.

From Literature

Diplomatic talks, mediated by Oman, were aimed at diffusing tensions between Washington and Tehran over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

From Barron's

There is a second, diffuse—seemingly unintentional—sadness revealed by the book that is something closer to cultural or civilizational loss.

From The Wall Street Journal