Meaning of diffuse in English

1. Pronunciation

   /dəˈfjuz/

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   UK accent

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1. Verb

   diffuse

   Etymology

   late Middle English: from Latin diffus-‘poured out’, from the verb diffundere, from dis-‘away’ + fundere‘pour’; the adjective via French diffus or Latin diffusus‘extensive’, from diffundere

   Definitions

   1. move outward

   Examples

   • « The soldiers fanned out »
2. 2. spread or diffuse through

   Examples

   • « An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration »
   • « music penetrated the entire building »
3. 3. cause to become widely known

   Examples

   • « spread information »
   • « circulate a rumor »
   • « broadcast the news »

4. Classifying Adjective

   diffuse

   Definitions

   1. spread out

   Examples

   • « not concentrated in one place »
   • « a large diffuse organization »

   Synonyms

   • distributed
5. 2. lacking conciseness

   Examples

   • « a diffuse historical novel »

   Synonyms

   • prolix