disperse Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb distribute loosely
    dust; sprinkle; scatter; dot.
    • He scattered gun powder under the wagon
  2. verb to cause to separate and go in different directions
    dispel; scatter; break up; dissipate.
    • She waved her hand and scattered the crowds
  3. verb cause to separate
    scatter; break up.
    • break up kidney stones
    • disperse particles
  4. verb move away from each other;
    scatter; spread out; dissipate.
    • The crowds dispersed
    • The children scattered in all directions when the teacher approached
  5. verb separate (light) into spectral rays
    • the prosm disperses light
  6. verb cause to become widely known
    circularise; disseminate; distribute; broadcast; spread; circularize; pass around; propagate; diffuse; circulate.
    • spread information
    • circulate a rumor
    • broadcast the news

WordNet

Dis*perse" transitive verb
Etymology
L. dispersus, p. p. of dispergere to strew, scatter. See Sparse.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Dispersed ; present participle & verbal noun Dispersing
Definitions
  1. To scatter abroad; to drive to different parts; to distribute; to diffuse; to spread; as, the Jews are dispersed among all nations.
    The lips of the wise disperse knowledge. Prov. xv. 7.
    Two lions, in the still, dark night, A herd of beeves disperse. Cowper.
  2. To scatter, so as to cause to vanish; to dissipate; as, to disperse vapors.
    Dispersed are the glories. Shak.
    Syn. -- To scatter; dissipate; dispel; spread; diffuse; distribute; deal out; disseminate.
Dis*perse" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To separate; to go or move into different parts; to vanish; as, the company dispersed at ten o'clock; the clouds disperse.
  2. To distribute wealth; to share one's abundance with others.
    He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor. Ps. cxii. 9.

Webster 1913