diffuse
dih-FYOOZ
Diffuse (verb) means to spread something out through a substance or space, or to spread out that way. Example: “The scent of coffee diffused through the whole house.”
verb
1
To spread something out through a substance or space, or to spread out that way.
"The scent of coffee diffused through the whole house."
"Tension in the room slowly diffused after the apology."
adjective
1
Spread out over a wide area rather than concentrated in one place.
"The light from the overcast sky was soft and diffuse."
2
Wordy and rambling rather than concise.
"His writing style is diffuse and could use some tightening up."
How to use diffuse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSpread thin over a wide area, or (for writing) padded out and unfocused.
Common mistake
As a verb it is pronounced with a "z" sound (diffuze); as an adjective it is pronounced with an "s" sound (diffuce).
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- diffuses
- Past tense
- diffused
- Comparative
- more diffuse
- Superlative
- most diffuse
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The scent of coffee _____ through the whole house.
Etymology
From Latin diffundere, "to pour out in different directions," from dis- plus fundere, "to pour."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for diffuse
See all rhymes for diffuse →Frequently asked questions
What does “diffuse” mean?
The word “diffuse” means to spread something out through a substance or space, or to spread out that way. In plain terms, spread thin over a wide area, or (for writing) padded out and unfocused.
How do you pronounce “diffuse”?
“Diffuse” is pronounced dih-FYOOZ (/dɪˈfjuz/ in IPA).
How do you use “diffuse” in a sentence?
Here is “diffuse” used in a sentence: “The scent of coffee diffused through the whole house.”
What is another word for “diffuse”?
Words with a similar meaning to “diffuse” include forspread, thin, prolix, dispersed, incompact and loose.
What is the opposite of “diffuse”?
The opposite of “diffuse” — its antonyms — are compact and dense.
What part of speech is “diffuse”?
Depending on how it is used, “diffuse” can be a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “diffuse” come from?
The word “diffuse” comes from Latin. From Latin diffundere, "to pour out in different directions," from dis- plus fundere, "to pour.".
Is “diffuse” a common word?
“Diffuse” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
