| 释义 |
dif·fuse
I. \də̇ˈfyüs\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French difus scattered, spread out, from Latin diffusus, past participle of diffundere to spread out, pour out, scatter, from dif- (from dis-) + fundere to pour — more at found
1. obsolete
a. : confused
b. : hard to understand : difficult
2. : poured or spread out : widespread : not concentrated or restrained : copious, full
3. : verbose, prolix
< a diffuse writer >
4. : spreading widely or loosely
< diffuse branches >
5. : not localized : scattered
< diffuse sclerosis >
6. : moving in many directions
< diffuse radiation >
7. : having the whole chorionic surface studded with villi
< whales and horses have diffuse placentas >
Synonyms: see wordy
II. \də̇ˈfyüz sometimes dīˈ-\ verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French diffuser, from Latin diffusus, past participle
transitive verb
1.
a. : to pour out and permit or cause to spread freely (as a fluid out of a container)
< a drop of dye diffused through water >
< gas being diffused through the air >
: spread out : permit to spread over a wide area or through a large space
< the all-pervasive spirit of sweetness and light diffused through the universe — V.L.Parrington >
b. : to make widely perceptible, known, or familiar : send out : extend, scatter, broadcast
< in place of the present chaos universities must again diffuse a definite culture — Walter Moberly >
c. : to spread out into many areas, spheres, agencies, and activities often with consequent reduced concentration or effectiveness
< a state in which power is concentrated will … be more bellicose than one in which power is diffused — Bertrand Russell >
< it is like dynamite exploded in the open. Its force is diffused by going in all directions — Saturday Review >
2. : to subject (as a light beam) to diffusion : treat by diffusion
3. : to break up and distribute (incident light) by reflection (as from a rough surface)
intransitive verb
1. : to spread out : pass or become transmitted often with slow tingeing or permeation
< culture traits are able to diffuse apart from the migration of peoples — Brewton Berry >
2. : to undergo diffusion
< a gas in solution diffuses from a region of greater to one of less concentration >
Synonyms: see spread |