diffuse
/dɪˈfjuz/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.28 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To spread (something) over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means.
Transitive verb
verb
To be spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means.
Intransitive verb
adj
Everywhere or throughout everything; not focused or concentrated.
Example Sentences
- "The small window diffuses light throughout the room."
- "Ideas are easily diffused with the help of technology."
- "We do not know by whom the insufficiency of the year of 365 days was first discovered; we find this knowledge diffused among all civilized nations, and various artifices used in making the correction."
- "Food coloring diffuses in water."
- "The riot diffused quite suddenly."
- "Such a diffuse effort is unlikely to produce good results."
Etymology
From Middle French diffuser, from Latin diffūsus, past participle of diffundere, from dis- + fundere.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /dɪˈfjuz/
- British English: /dɪˈfjuːz/
Usage
Inflected Forms
diffuses (present, singular)
diffusing (participle, present)
diffused (participle, past)
diffused (past)
more diffuse (comparative)
most diffuse (superlative)