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diffuse
dif·fuse • v. / diˈfyoōz/ spread or cause to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people: [intr.] technologies diffuse rapidly | [tr.] the problem is how to diffuse power without creating anarchy. ∎ become or cause (a fluid, gas, individual atom, etc.) to become intermingled with a substance by movement, typically in a specified direction or at specified speed: [intr.] oxygen molecules diffuse across the membrane | [tr.] gas is diffused into the bladder. ∎ [tr.] cause (light) to glow faintly by dispersing it in many directions. • adj. / diˈfyoōs/ spread out over a large area; not concentrated: the diffuse community centered on the church the light is more diffuse. ∎ (of disease) not localized in the body: diffuse hyperplasia. ∎ lacking clarity or conciseness: the second argument is more diffuse. DERIVATIVES: dif·fuse·ly / -ˈfyoōslē/ adv. dif·fuse·ness / -ˈfyoōsnis/ n. |
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"diffuse." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "diffuse." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-diffuse.html "diffuse." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-diffuse.html |
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diffuse
diffuse †confused, indistinct XV; opp. of confined and condensed XVIII. — F. diffus (fem. -use) or L. diffūsus extensive, ample, prolix, pp. of diffundere pour out, f. DIF- + fundere pour.
So diffuse vb. XVI. f. diffūs-, pp. stem of L. diffundere. diffusion †outpouring XIV; spreading abroad XVI; permeation of a fluid by another XVIII. — L. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "diffuse." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "diffuse." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-diffuse.html T. F. HOAD. "diffuse." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-diffuse.html |
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diffuse
diffuse
•abstruse, abuse, adduce, Ballets Russes, Belarus, Bruce, burnous, caboose, charlotte russe, conduce, deduce, deuce, diffuse, douce, educe, excuse, goose, induce, introduce, juice, Larousse, loose, luce, misuse, moose, mousse, noose, obtuse, Palouse, papoose, produce, profuse, puce, recluse, reduce, Rousse, seduce, sluice, Sousse, spruce, traduce, truce, use, vamoose, Zeus
•cayuse • calaboose • mongoose
•Aarhus • verjuice • couscous
•footloose • ventouse • refuse
•Odysseus • Idomeneus • hypotenuse
•Syracuse
•abuse, accuse, adieux, amuse, bemuse, billets-doux, blues, booze, bruise, choose, Clews, confuse, contuse, cruise, cruse, Cruz, diffuse, do's, Druze, effuse, enthuse, excuse, fuse (US fuze), Hughes, incuse, interfuse, lose, Mahfouz, mews, misuse, muse, news, ooze, Ouse, perfuse, peruse, rhythm-and-blues, ruse, schmooze, snooze, suffuse, Toulouse, transfuse, trews, use, Vaduz, Veracruz, who's, whose, youse
•Andrews
•Matthews • circumfuse • Syracuse
•purlieux
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Cite this article
"diffuse." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "diffuse." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-diffuse.html "diffuse." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-diffuse.html |
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