diffusing

dif·fuse

 (dĭ-fyo͞oz′)

v. dif·fused, dif·fus·ing, dif·fus·es

v.tr.

1. To cause to spread out freely: smoke that is diffused throughout the room.

2. To make known to or cause to be used by large numbers of people; disseminate: diffuses ideas over the internet.

3. To make less brilliant; soften: light that is diffused through frosted glass.

4. To make less intense; weaken: a remark that diffused the tension in the interview.

5. Physics To cause to undergo diffusion.

v.intr.

1. To become widely dispersed; spread out: The hormone diffuses throughout the body.

2. Physics To undergo diffusion.

adj. (dĭ-fyo͞os′)

1. Widely spread or scattered; not concentrated: Diffuse light is often hard to read by.

2. Wordy or unclear: a diffuse description. See Synonyms at wordy.

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[From Middle English, dispersed, from Anglo-Norman diffus, from Latin diffūsus, past participle of diffundere, to spread : dis-, out, apart; see dis- + fundere, to pour; see gheu- in Indo-European roots.]

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dif·fuse′ly (-fyo͞os′lē) adv.

dif·fuse′ness (-fyo͞os′nĭs) n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

diffusing - spreading by diffusion diffusive, dispersive, disseminative distributive - serving to distribute or allot or disperse

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.