diffuse Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb move outward
fan out; spread; spread out.
- The soldiers fanned out
verb spread or diffuse through
riddle; permeate; interpenetrate; pervade; penetrate; imbue.
- An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration
- music penetrated the entire building
- His campaign was riddled with accusations and personal attacks
verb cause to become widely known
circularise; disseminate; distribute; broadcast; spread; circularize; disperse; pass around; propagate; circulate.
- spread information
- circulate a rumor
- broadcast the news
adjective satellite spread out; not concentrated in one place
- a large diffuse organization
adjective (of light) transmitted from a broad light source or reflected
diffused; soft.
adjective satellite lacking conciseness
- a diffuse historical novel

L. diffusus, p. p. of diffundere to pour out, to diffuse; dif- = dis- + fundere to pour. See Fuse to melt.

imperfect & past participle Diffused ; present participle & verbal noun Diffusing

To pour out and cause to spread, as a fluid; to cause to flow on all sides; to send out, or extend, in all directions; to spread; to circulate; to disseminate; to scatter; as to diffuse information.
Thence diffuse His good to worlds and ages infinite. Milton.

We find this knowledge diffused among all civilized nations. Whewell.
Syn. -- To expand; spread; circulate; extend; scatter; disperse; publish; proclaim.

L. diffusus, p. p.

Poured out; widely spread; not restrained; copious; full; esp., of style, opposed to concise or terse; verbose; prolix; as, a diffuse style; a diffuse writer.
A diffuse and various knowledge of divine and human things. Milton.
Syn. -- Prolix; verbose; wide; copious; full. See Prolix.