dispersion (redirected from dispersions)

dis·per·sion  (d-spûrzhn, -shn)

n.

1.

a. The act or process of dispersing.

b. The state of being dispersed.

2. Dispersion The Diaspora of the Jews.

3. Statistics The degree of scatter of data, usually about an average value, such as the median.

4. Physics

a. Separation of a complex wave into its component parts according to a given characteristic, such as frequency or wavelength.

b. Separation of visible light into colors by refraction or diffraction.

5. Chemistry See disperse system.

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dispersion  (d-spûrzhn)

The separation by refraction of light or other radiation into individual components of different wavelengths. Dispersion results in most materials because a material's index of refraction depends on the wavelength of the radiation passing through it; thus different wavelengths entering a material along the same path will fan out into different paths within it. Prisms, for example, diffuse white light (which contains an even mixture of visible wavelengths) into its variously colored components; rainbows are an effect of dispersion in water droplets.

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1. A scattered pattern of hits around the mean point of impact of bombs and projectiles dropped or fired under identical conditions.
2. In antiaircraft gunnery, the scattering of shots in range and deflection about the mean point of explosion.
3. The spreading or separating of troops, materiel, establishments, or activities which are usually concentrated in limited areas to reduce vulnerability.
4. In chemical and biological operations, the dissemination of agents in liquid or aerosol form.
5. In airdrop operations, the scatter of personnel and/or cargo on the drop zone.
6. In naval control of shipping, the reberthing of a ship in the periphery of the port area or in the vicinity of the port for its own protection in order to minimize the risk of damage from attack. See also circular error probable; convoy dispersal point; delivery error; deviation; dispersion error; horizontal error.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	dispersion - spreading widely or driving off scattering Diaspora - the dispersion of the Jews outside Israel; from the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 587-86 BC when they were exiled to Babylonia up to the present time dissipation - breaking up and scattering by dispersion; "the dissipation of the mist" spread, spreading - process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
	2.	dispersion - the spatial or geographic property of being scattered about over a range, area, or volume; "worldwide in distribution"; "the distribution of nerve fibers"; "in complementary distribution" distribution spatial arrangement, spacing - the property possessed by an array of things that have space between them complementary distribution, complementation - (linguistics) a distribution of related speech sounds or forms in such a way that they only appear in different contexts diaspora - the dispersion or spreading of something that was originally localized (as a people or language or culture) dissemination, diffusion - the property of being diffused or dispersed innervation - the distribution of nerve fibers to an organ or body region scatter, spread - a haphazard distribution in all directions
	3.	dispersion - the act of dispersing or diffusing something; "the dispersion of the troops"; "the diffusion of knowledge" dispersal, dissemination, diffusion spreading, spread - act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time crop-dusting, spraying - the dispersion of fungicides or insecticides or fertilizer on growing crops (often from a low-flying aircraft)