diffuse — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To spread (something) over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   The small window diffuses light throughout the room.

   Ideas are easily diffused with the help of technology.

   More examples (1)

   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.

2. To be spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   Food coloring diffuses in water.

   The riot diffused quite suddenly.

Adjective

1. Everywhere or throughout everything; not focused or concentrated.

   Examples

   Such a diffuse effort is unlikely to produce good results.

   diffuse activity of the prefrontal cortex

2. Wordy; verbose.

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   '[…] A short account of myself, I believe, will be necessary, and it shall be a short one. On such a subject,' sighing heavily, 'I can have little temptation to be diffuse.'

   An author who produced over fifty books and innumerable articles on all kinds of subjects could not be a philosopher of the first rank. He was also a bad writer: his principal work is diffuse, chaotic, vague, and repetitive.

Adjective

1. spread out; not concentrated in one place

   Examples

   a large diffuse organization

2. (of light) transmitted from a broad light source or reflected

   Synonyms

   softdiffused

3. lacking conciseness

   Examples

   a diffuse historical novel

Verb

1. move outward

   Synonyms

   spreadspread outfan out

   Broader terms

   spreaddistribute

   Examples

   The soldiers fanned out

2. spread or diffuse through

   Synonyms

   permeatepervadepenetrateinterpenetrateimbueriddle

   Broader terms

   penetrateperforate

   Examples

   An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration

   music penetrated the entire building

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   His campaign was riddled with accusations and personal attacks

3. cause to become widely known

   Synonyms

   circulatecircularizecircularisedistributedisseminatepropagatebroadcastspreaddispersepass around

   Broader terms

   publicizepubliciseairbare

   Examples

   spread information

   circulate a rumor

   More examples (1)

   broadcast the news