diffuse

Q: 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."

1 of 2

adjective

dif·fuse di-ˈfyüs

Synonyms of diffuse next

: being at once verbose and ill-organized

a diffuse report from the scene of the earthquake

: not concentrated or localized

diffuse lighting

diffuse sclerosis

diffusely adverb

diffuseness noun

diffuse

2 of 2

verb

dif·fuse di-ˈfyüz

diffused; diffusing

transitive verb

: to pour out and permit or cause to spread freely

a drop of blue dye diffused in a glass of water

: extend, scatter

diffusing their ideas throughout the continent

: to spread thinly or wastefully

a government in which power is diffused

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

: to spread out or become transmitted especially by contact

The civilization diffused westward.

: to undergo diffusion

heat from the radiator diffusing throughout the room

diffusible

di-ˈfyü-zə-bəl

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.

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

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Diffuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diffuse. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

diffuse

1 of 2 adjective

dif·fuse dif-ˈyüs

: using too many words : verbose

a diffuse writer

: poured or spread out : not concentrated

diffuse daylight

diffusely adverb

diffuseness noun

diffuse

2 of 2 verb

dif·fuse dif-ˈyüz

diffused; diffusing

: to pour out and permit or cause to spread freely

: to go through or cause to go through diffusion

Medical Definition

diffuse

1 of 2 adjective

dif·fuse dif-ˈyüs

: not concentrated or localized

diffuse sclerosis

diffuse

2 of 2 verb

dif·fuse dif-ˈyüz

diffused; diffusing

transitive verb

: to subject (as a light beam) to diffusion

: to break up and distribute (incident light) by reflection (as from a rough surface)

intransitive verb

: to undergo diffusion

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

paroxysm

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

diffuse

adjective

verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Synonyms

Examples of diffuse in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near diffuse

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition