diffusion

American  

[dih-fyoo-zhuhn] / dɪˈfyu ʒən /

noun

1. the act of diffusing or state of being diffused.

   During the gradual, unorchestrated diffusion of ideas from science into the surrounding culture, crucial information can sometimes be lost.

2. excessive wordiness of speech or writing; long-windedness.

3. Physics.

   1. Also called migration.  an intermingling of molecules, ions, etc., resulting from random thermal agitation, as in the dispersion of a vapor in air.

   2. a reflection or refraction of light or other electromagnetic radiation from an irregular surface, or an erratic dispersion through a surface; scattering.

4. Movies. a soft-focus effect resulting from placing a gelatin or silk plate in front of a studio light or a camera lens, or through the use of diffusion filters.

5. Meteorology. the spreading of atmospheric constituents or properties by turbulent motion as well as molecular motion of the air.

6. Also called cultural diffusion.  Anthropology, Sociology. the transmission of elements or features of one culture to another.

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diffusion British  

/ dɪˈfjuːʒən /

noun

1. the act or process of diffusing or being diffused; dispersion

2. verbosity

3. physics

   1. the random thermal motion of atoms, molecules, clusters of atoms, etc, in gases, liquids, and some solids

   2. the transfer of atoms or molecules by their random motion from one part of a medium to another

4. physics the transmission or reflection of electromagnetic radiation, esp light, in which the radiation is scattered in many directions and not directly reflected or refracted; scattering

5. Also called: diffusivity.  physics the degree to which the directions of propagation of reverberant sound waves differ from point to point in an enclosure

6. anthropol the transmission of social institutions, skills, and myths from one culture to another

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diffusion Scientific  

/ dĭ-fyo̅o̅′zhən /

1. The movement of atoms or molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. Atoms and small molecules can move across a cell membrane by diffusion.

2. Compare osmosis

3. The reflection or refraction of radiation such as light or sound by an irregular surface, tending to scatter it in many directions.

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diffusion Cultural  

1. The spreading of atoms or molecules of one substance through those of another, especially into liquids or gas es.

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Other Word Forms

• interdiffusion noun
• nondiffusion noun
• overdiffusion noun
• rediffusion noun
• self-diffusion noun

Etymology

Origin of diffusion

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin diffūsiōn-, stem of diffūsiō “a spreading out”; equivalent to diffuse + -ion

Example Sentences

At the same time, these events unfold within constantly changing physical conditions such as voltage fields, chemical gradients, ionic diffusion, and time-varying conductances.

From Science Daily

The survey showed big manufacturers’ diffusion index stood at 15, in line with market expectations for 15.

From The Wall Street Journal

A team from Cambridge's MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit analyzed MRI diffusion scans from 3,802 individuals ranging from newborns to 90 years old.

From Science Daily

In photochemistry, light energizes the catalyst, and the excited catalyst must encounter another molecule through diffusion in order to pass along an electron.

From Science Daily

Of course, supporting the diffusion of innovative technologies, such as AI, to make the broad swath of firms more efficient matters, too.

From Barron's

Related Words

• dispersal
• dispersion
• dissemination
• dissipation