Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

diffract

/dɪˈfɹækt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.40 in modern English

Syllables: dif-fract
IPA: /dɪˈfɹækt/

17

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To cause diffraction

Transitive verb

verb

To undergo diffraction

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"Dave frowned as he tried to answer. "Well, I suppose the atmosphere is oxygen and nitrogen, mostly; then there's the ionosphere and the ozone layer. As I remember, the color of the sky is due to the scattering of light—light rays being diffracted in the air.""

Etymology

From Latin diffractus (“past participle of diffringo (“to shatter, to break into pieces”)”).

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: *bʰreg-, diffractus

Usage

Inflected Forms

diffracts (present, singular) diffracting (participle, present) diffracted (participle, past) diffracted (past)

Derived Forms

diffractable diffractometer diffractometry diffractor nondiffracting undiffracted

Rhymes With

fact act impact attacked exact packed backed attract react abstract interact cracked

Questions

How do you pronounce diffract?: The recorded pronunciation is /dɪˈfɹækt/.
What does diffract mean?: To cause diffraction
Where does diffract come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce diffract

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “diffract”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/dɪˈfɹækt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “diffract”.
Repeat and practice — Say “diffract” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.