disperse
[ dih-spurs ]
/ dɪˈspɜrs /
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verb (used with object), dis·persed, dis·pers·ing.
verb (used without object), dis·persed, dis·pers·ing.
to separate and move apart in different directions without order or regularity; become scattered: The crowd dispersed.
to be dispelled; be scattered out of sight; vanish: The smoke dispersed into the sky.
adjective
Physical Chemistry. noting the dispersed particles in a dispersion.
OTHER WORDS FOR disperse
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Origin of disperse
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
synonym study for disperse
1. See scatter.
OTHER WORDS FROM disperse
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH disperse
disperse , disburseDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use disperse in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for disperse
disperse
/ (dɪˈspɜːs) /
verb
adjective
of or consisting of the particles in a colloid or suspensiondisperse phase
Derived forms of disperse
dispersedly (dɪˈspɜːsɪdlɪ), adverbdisperser, nounWord Origin for disperse
C14: from Latin dispērsus scattered, from dispergere to scatter widely, from di- ² + spargere to strew
undefined disperse
See disburse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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