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diffuse (v.)

1520s (transitive), "to pour out and spread, cause to flow and spread;" 1650s (intransitive), "spread abroad, scatter in all directions;" from Latin diffusus, past participle of diffundere "to pour out or away," from dis- "apart, in every direction" (see dis-) + fundere "to pour" (from nasalized form of PIE root *gheu- "to pour"). Related: Diffused; diffusing.

Origin and meaning of diffuse

diffuse (adj.)

early 15c., "hard to understand;" also, of writers, "verbose, using many words;" from Latin diffusus, past participle of diffundere "scatter, pour out," from dis- "apart, in every direction" (see dis-) + fundere "to pour" (from nasalized form of PIE root *gheu- "to pour"). Meaning "widely spread or diffused, scattered" is from late 15c.

Origin and meaning of diffuse

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Definitions of diffuse from WordNet
1
diffuse (v.)
move outward;
Synonyms: spread / spread out / fan out
diffuse (v.)
spread or diffuse through;
diffuse (v.)
cause to become widely known;
Synonyms: circulate / circularize / circularise / distribute / disseminate / propagate / broadcast / spread / disperse / pass around
2
diffuse (adj.)
spread out; not concentrated in one place;
a large diffuse organization
diffuse (adj.)
lacking conciseness;
a diffuse historical novel
diffuse (adj.)
(of light) transmitted from a broad light source or reflected;
Synonyms: soft / diffused
From wordnet.princeton.edu