diffuse

1 of 2

adjective

dif·​fuse di-ˈfyüs How to pronounce diffuse (audio)
Synonyms of diffusenext
1
: being at once verbose and ill-organized
a diffuse report from the scene of the earthquake
2
: not concentrated or localized
diffuse lighting
diffuse sclerosis
diffusely adverb
diffuseness noun

diffuse

2 of 2

verb

dif·​fuse di-ˈfyüz How to pronounce diffuse (audio)
diffused; diffusing

transitive verb

1
a
: to pour out and permit or cause to spread freely
a drop of blue dye diffused in a glass of water
b
: extend, scatter
diffusing their ideas throughout the continent
c
: to spread thinly or wastefully
a government in which power is diffused
2
physics : to subject to diffusion (see diffusion sense 3)
especially : to break up and distribute (incident light) by reflection
put up a screen to diffuse the light

intransitive verb

1
: to spread out or become transmitted especially by contact
The civilization diffused westward.
2
: to undergo diffusion
heat from the radiator diffusing throughout the room
diffusible
di-ˈfyü-zə-bəl How to pronounce diffuse (audio)
adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between diffuse and defuse?

Many people find it difficult to remember the difference between defuse and diffuse, and when faced with the need for one of these words simply grab whichever one first comes to mind. Although these word sound quite similar, their meanings are rather distinct. Defuse means "to make less harmful, potent, or tense"; the word has another, helpfully literal, meaning, which is "to remove the fuse from." Diffuse means "not concentrated or localized"; it comes from the Latin word diffūsus ("spread over a wide area").

What is the difference between diffuse and infuse?

Diffuse is commonly found used as both adjective ("not concentrated or localized") and verb ("to pour out and permit or cause to spread freely," "to scatter"), while infuse is almost entirely restricted to use as a verb. While the meannings of diffuse are mainly concerned with outward movement, those of infuse are inward; the word has such meanings as "to steep in liquid (such as water) without boiling so as to extract the soluble constituents or principles," "to administer or inject by infusion," and "to cause to be permeated with something (such as a principle or quality) that alters usually for the better."

What does diffuse pain mean?

Diffuse pain is pain is pain that not concentrated or localized, being instead spread throughout a wider area of the body.

Synonyms

Adjective

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for diffuse

wordy, verbose, prolix, diffuse mean using more words than necessary to express thought.

wordy may also imply loquaciousness or garrulity.

a wordy speech

verbose suggests a resulting dullness, obscurity, or lack of incisiveness or precision.

the verbose position papers

prolix suggests unreasonable and tedious dwelling on details.

habitually transformed brief anecdotes into prolix sagas

diffuse stresses lack of compactness and pointedness of style.

diffuse memoirs that are so many shaggy-dog stories

Examples of diffuse in a Sentence

Adjective The forest was filled with a soft, diffuse light. a diffuse speech that took a great deal of time to make a very small point Verb The heat from the radiator diffuses throughout the room. The heat was diffused throughout the room. The photographer uses a screen to diffuse the light. an area of diffused light
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Cultural attitudes on each side toward consumer safety, environmental protection, and privacy run deep, and they will not be overcome with promises of diffuse economic benefits and future job growth. —Thomas J. Bollyky, Foreign Affairs, 10 July 2013 In large companies with diffuse corporate hierarchies, that legal bar can be difficult to meet. —Richard Vanderford, WSJ, 30 Mar. 2023
Verb
The episode ends with Melissa returning to school the next day with crutches and a cast, and Lisa congratulates Gregory on diffusing Darnell’s act of aggression. —Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024 This hair gadget not only diffuses your hair but also comes with a concentrator that is perfect for anyone with delicate curls. —Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 5 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for diffuse 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, "dispersed, verbose (of speech or writing)," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French diffus, borrowed from Latin diffūsus "spread over a wide area, (of writing) extensive, verbose," from past participle of diffundere "to pour out over a wide surface, spread, extend, squander" — more at diffuse entry 2

Verb

Middle English, in past participle diffusid, borrowed from Latin diffūsus, past participle of diffundere "to pour out over a wide surface, spread out, extend, squander," from dif-, assimilated form of dis- dis- + fundere "to pour, shed" — more at found entry 5

First Known Use

Adjective

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of diffuse was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing diffuse

Dictionary Entries Near diffuse

diffractometer

diffuse

diffuse nebula

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Diffuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diffuse. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

diffuse

1 of 2 adjective
dif·​fuse dif-ˈyüs How to pronounce diffuse (audio)
1
: using too many words : verbose
a diffuse writer
2
: poured or spread out : not concentrated
diffuse daylight
diffusely adverb
diffuseness noun

diffuse

2 of 2 verb
dif·​fuse dif-ˈyüz How to pronounce diffuse (audio)
diffused; diffusing
1
: to pour out and permit or cause to spread freely
2
: to go through or cause to go through diffusion

Medical Definition

diffuse

1 of 2 adjective
dif·​fuse dif-ˈyüs How to pronounce diffuse (audio)
: not concentrated or localized
diffuse sclerosis

diffuse

2 of 2 verb
dif·​fuse dif-ˈyüz How to pronounce diffuse (audio)
diffused; diffusing

transitive verb

1
: to subject (as a light beam) to diffusion
2
: to break up and distribute (incident light) by reflection (as from a rough surface)

intransitive verb

: to undergo diffusion

More from Merriam-Webster on diffuse

Nglish: Translation of diffuse for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of diffuse for Arabic Speakers

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