diffused

Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

dif·fuse

(dĭ-fyo͞oz′)

v. dif·fused, dif·fus·ing, dif·fus·es

v.tr.

1. To cause to spread out freely: smoke that is diffused throughout the room.

2. To make known to or cause to be used by large numbers of people; disseminate: diffuses ideas over the internet.

3. To make less brilliant; soften: light that is diffused through frosted glass.

4. To make less intense; weaken: a remark that diffused the tension in the interview.

5. Physics To cause to undergo diffusion.

v.intr.

1. To become widely dispersed; spread out: The hormone diffuses throughout the body.

2. Physics To undergo diffusion.

adj. (dĭ-fyo͞os′)

1. Widely spread or scattered; not concentrated: Diffuse light is often hard to read by.

2. Wordy or unclear: a diffuse description. See Synonyms at wordy.

[From Middle English, dispersed, from Anglo-Norman diffus, from Latin diffūsus, past participle of diffundere, to spread : dis-, out, apart; see dis- + fundere, to pour; see gheu- in Indo-European roots.]

dif·fuse′ly (-fyo͞os′lē) adv.

dif·fuse′ness (-fyo͞os′nĭs) n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Adj.	1.	diffused - (of light rays) subjected to scattering by reflection from a rough surface or transmission through a translucent material; "diffused light" distributed - spread out or scattered about or divided up
	2.	diffused - (of light) transmitted from a broad light source or reflected diffuse, soft

Translations

diffused

[dɪˈfjuːzd] ADJ → difuso

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

diffused

adj → verbreitet; lighting → indirekt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

diffused

a. difuso-a;

___ abscess → absceso ___;

___ cutaneous mastocystosis → mastocitosis cutánea ___;

___ injury → lesión extensa;

___ obstructive enphysema → enfisema obstructivo ___.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

References in classic literature ?

These two species (A) and (I), were also supposed to be very common and widely diffused species, so that they must originally have had some advantage over most of the other species of the genus.

View in context

Her mind was every way equal to her person; nay, the latter borrowed some charms from the former; for when she smiled, the sweetness of her temper diffused that glory over her countenance which no regularity of features can give.

View in context

But the weirdest effect, and the most enchanting is that produced by the diffused light of the low afternoon sun; no single ray is able to pierce its way in, then, but the diffused light takes color from moss and foliage, and pervades the place like a faint, greet-tinted mist, the theatrical fire of fairyland.

View in context

The gentlemen joined them; and soon after began the sweet expectation of a carriage, when a general spirit of ease and enjoyment seemed diffused, and they all stood about and talked and laughed, and every moment had its pleasure and its hope.

View in context

For which the astronomers (who have written large systems concerning the stone) assign the following reason: that the magnetic virtue does not extend beyond the distance of four miles, and that the mineral, which acts upon the stone in the bowels of the earth, and in the sea about six leagues distant from the shore, is not diffused through the whole globe, but terminated with the limits of the king's dominions; and it was easy, from the great advantage of such a superior situation, for a prince to bring under his obedience whatever country lay within the attraction of that magnet.

View in context

The very anticipations of delight to be enjoyed in his forthcoming visits -- the bright, pure gleam of heavenly happiness it diffused over the almost deadly warfare in which he had voluntarily engaged, illumined his whole countenance with a look of ineffable joy and calmness, as, immediately after Villefort's departure, his thoughts flew back to the cheering prospect before him, of tasting, at least, a brief respite from the fierce and stormy passions of his mind.

View in context

They declared that there were eighty-two erroneous opinions on religious subjects diffused among the people, and that Mrs.

View in context

The captain cheered them up, and diffused fresh spirit in them by his example.

View in context

A momentary joy was diffused through the camp, for they supposed succor to be at hand.