Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense diffuses, present participle diffusing, past tense, past participle diffusedpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (dɪfjuːz). The adjective is pronounced (dɪfjuːs).
1. verb
If something such as knowledge or information is diffused, or if it diffuses somewhere, it is made known over a wide area or to a lot of people.
[written]
Over time, the technology is diffused and adopted by other countries. [beVERB-ed]
...an attempt to diffuse new ideas. [VERB noun]
As agriculture developed, agricultural ideas diffused across Europe. [VERB preposition]
diffusion (dɪfjuːʒən)uncountable noun
...the development and diffusion of ideas. [+ of]
Synonyms: rambling, wandering, verbiage, wordiness More Synonyms of diffuse
Synonyms: spreading, distribution, scattering, circulation More Synonyms of diffuse
2. verb
To diffuse a feeling, especially an undesirable one, means to cause it to weaken and lose its power to affect people.
The arrival of letters from the president did nothing to diffuse the tension. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If something diffuses light, it causes the light to spread weakly in different directions.
Diffusing a light also reduces its power. [VERB noun]
The sun slid behind trees, its last light diffused by wintry branches. [VERB noun]
4. verb
To diffuse or be diffused through something means to move and spread through it.
It allows nicotine to diffuse slowly and steadily into the bloodstream. [VERB preposition]
It created a glowing centre of warmth that quickly diffused through my limbs. [VERB preposition]
Speakers that diffuse music into each room are hidden in the ceiling. [VERB noun preposition]
diffusionuncountable noun
There are data on the rates of diffusion of molecules. [+ of]
Synonyms: rambling, wandering, verbiage, wordiness More Synonyms of diffuse
5. adjective
Something that is diffuse is not directed towards one place or concentrated in one place but spread out over a large area.
[written]
...a diffuse community.
A cold, diffuse light filtered in through the skylight.
Synonyms: spread-out, scattered, dispersed, unconcentrated More Synonyms of diffuse
6. adjective
If you describe something as diffuse, you mean that it is vague and difficult to understand or explain.
His writing is diffuse and it is difficult to make out what he is trying to say.
Synonyms: rambling, loose, vague, meandering More Synonyms of diffuse
More Synonyms of diffuse
diffuse in British English
verb (dɪˈfjuːz)
1.
to spread or cause to spread in all directions
2.
to undergo or cause to undergo diffusion
3.
to scatter or cause to scatter; disseminate; disperse
adjective (dɪˈfjuːs)
4.
spread out over a wide area
5.
lacking conciseness
6.
(esp of some creeping stems) spreading loosely over a large area
7.
characterized by or exhibiting diffusion
diffuse light
diffuse reflection
8. botany
(of plant growth) occurring throughout a tissue
▶ USAGE Avoid confusion with defuse
Derived forms
diffusely (dɪˈfjuːslɪ)
adverb
diffuseness (difˈfuseness)
noun
diffusible (dɪˈfjuːzəbəl)
adjective
diffusibility (difˌfusiˈbility) or diffusibleness (difˈfusibleness)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin diffūsus spread abroad, from diffundere to pour forth, from dis- away + fundere to pour
diffuse in American English
(dɪˈfjus; for v., dɪˈfjuz)
adjective
1.
spread out or dispersed; not concentrated
2.
using more words than are needed; long-winded; wordy
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: difˈfused or difˈfusing
3.
to pour, spread out, or disperse in every direction; spread or scatter widely
4. Physics
to mix by diffusion, as gases, liquids, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈwordy
Derived forms
diffusely (difˈfusely)
adverb
diffuseness (difˈfuseness)
noun
Word origin
ME < L diffusus, pp. of diffundere, to pour in different directions < dis-, apart + fundere, to pour: see UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
Examples of 'diffuse' in a sentence
diffuse
Local church power is a diffuse entity.
Christianity Today (2000)
His most diffuse and most difficult role.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You have to diffuse light in a flattering way.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This movement alters the range of the beam from narrow and direct to wide and diffuse.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In the latter situation stress can build up in the absence of any form of physical release which could diffuse the situation.
MacEoin, Beth Healthy By Nature (1994)
These people can drive change, diffuse information and bridge diverse perspectives and opinions.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We diffuse our feeling over others, and count on their acting from our motives.
George Eliot Daniel Deronda (1876)
Credit should go to the Swede for the speed with which he got to his feet to diffuse the situation.
The Sun (2006)
When we are embarrassed we tend to laugh diffuse the situation, but if you laugh while telling him to stop you give him mixed messages.
The Sun (2006)
But she added: 'You can be a superhero in a little way and diffuse little situations.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
diffuse
British English: diffuse VERB
If something such as knowledge or information is diffused, or if it diffuses somewhere, it is made known over a wide area or to a lot of people.
Over time, the technology is diffused and adopted by other countries.
American English: diffuse
Brazilian Portuguese: difundir
Chinese: 普及
European Spanish: difundir
French: diffuser
German: verbreiten
Italian: diffondere
Japanese: 普及させる/普及する
Korean: 분산시키다
European Portuguese: difundir
Latin American Spanish: difundir
(verb)
Definition
to spread over a wide area
Our aim is to diffuse new ideas obtained from elsewhere.
Synonyms
spread
Someone has been spreading rumours about us.
distribute
Break the exhibition up and distribute it around existing museums.
scatter
He began by scattering seed and putting in plants.
circulate
Public employees are circulating a petition calling for his reinstatement.
disperse
The rest of our equipment was now dispersed over the lake.
dispense
dispel
He will hope to dispel their fears.
dissipate
The tension in the room had dissipated.
propagate
They propagated subversive political doctrines.
disseminate
The press plays a critical part in disseminating news and information.
1 (adjective)
Definition
spread out over a wide area
a diffuse community
Synonyms
spread-out
scattered
dispersed
his widely dispersed business
unconcentrated
Opposites
concentrated
2 (adjective)
Definition
lacking conciseness
His writing is so diffuse that it is almost impossible to understand.
Synonyms
rambling
He wrote a rambling letter to his sister.
loose
We came to some sort of loose arrangement before he went home.
vague
meandering
waffling (informal)
long-winded
The manifesto is long-winded and repetitious.
wordy
His speech is full of wordy rhetoric.
discursive
The book is characterized by a reflective, discursive style.
verbose
When drunk, he becomes pompous and verbose.
prolix
maundering
digressive
diffusive
circumlocutory
Opposites
brief
,
to the point
,
concise
,
terse
,
succinct
,
apposite
,
compendious
Usage note
This word is quite commonly misused instead of defuse, when talking about calming down a situation. However, the words are very different in meaning and should never be used as alternatives to each other.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of circulate
Definition
to send, go, or pass from place to place or person to person
Public employees are circulating a petition calling for his reinstatement.
Synonyms
spread,
issue,
publish,
broadcast,
distribute,
diffuse,
publicize,
propagate,
disseminate,
promulgate,
make known
in the sense of discursive
Definition
passing from one topic to another
The book is characterized by a reflective, discursive style.