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

Founded in 2007, Zion Church represents a particular concern for Chinese officials because of its dispersed presence in many cities, its online prayer groups and its members’ connections to Western Christians.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The fact that things get “shaken up,” with wolves dispersing and packs changing, is a good thing, she said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s hardening and dispersing its defense industries against Ukraine’s long-range strikes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The family eventually disperses and files into four separate cars before heading out from the airport.

Read more on Literature

An Al Jazeera journalist was shot and injured while covering a demonstration by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank that was dispersed by Israeli soldiers, AFP journalists witnessed on Tuesday.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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