diffuse

Word family

dif·fuse1 /dɪˈfjuːz/ verb

1 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]SPREAD to make heat, light, liquid etc spread through something, or to spread like this 扩散，渗透，弥漫

diffuse through/into/across

The pollutants diffuse into the soil.

污染物渗进了土壤。

2 SPREAD[intransitiveI, transitiveT] to spread ideas or information among a lot of people, or to spread like this （使）〔观点或信息〕传播，散布

Their ideas diffused quickly across Europe.

他们的观点很快在欧洲传播开来。

3 [transitiveT] to make a bad feeling or situation less strong or serious 减弱，平息〔不良情绪或局面〕

an attempt to diffuse his anger

平息他怒气的尝试

—diffusion /dɪˈfjuːʒən/ noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

diffuse• The wind quickly diffused any toxic vapors that may have leaked out.• Many presidential candidates have used humor to diffuse criticism.• This is why the method is often applied to soften and diffuse distant objects or hills, as in atmospheric perspective.• The smoke will diffuse into other rooms and will get into carpets, drapes and clothing.• Serum is placed into a circular-well area and allowed to diffuse into the agar forming antigen antibody complexes.• Obtainable under the proprietary name Chlordane, the toxin gradually works down into the soil diffusing into the soil atmosphere.• Alternative energy technologies will be successfully diffused only if realistic assumptions are made about the real economic situation in the Third World.• Mental mistakes have diffused the greatest of teams with the most legendary of coaches.• Critics believe that such action will diffuse the power of Congress.• The history of the house has been diffused through family legend.• As solvent diffuses through the membrane, the increase in volume causes the diaphragm to move.

diffuse through/into/across• All gases are miscible and thus they can all diffuse through each other.• The smoke will diffuse into other rooms and will get into carpets, drapes and clothing.• Serum is placed into a circular-well area and allowed to diffuse into the agar forming antigen antibody complexes.• When oxygen diffuses into the buffer from a sample, it is reduced at the cathode.• T3 and diffuse into the circulation where they are bound to proteins. 353.• As solvent diffuses through the membrane, the increase in volume causes the diaphragm to move.• Obtainable under the proprietary name Chlordane, the toxin gradually works down into the soil diffusing into the soil atmosphere.• As the wave reaches the cell periphery, enough calcium may diffuse across to activate the neighbouring cell.

dif·fuse2 /dɪˈfjuːs/ adjectiveadj

1 SPREADspread over a large area 散开的，分散的

The organization is large and diffuse.

这个组织规模大、分布广。

2 CONFUSEDusing a lot of words and not explaining things clearly and directly 累赘的，啰唆的

His writing is diffuse and difficult to understand.

他写的东西冗长难懂。

—diffuseness noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

diffuse• This is not to say that power in organizations has become so diffuse and fleeting that it is irrelevant.• Even so, in the diffuse community which centred on the church there might be those willing to shelter him.• The diffuse energies and compulsions of the teenaged boy must be shaped into the constructive activities of manhood.• The cold clouds seen at 100 micrometres are large and diffuse, evidently just beginning to condense under their own gravity.• Local application of platelet concentrates shows potential in treating diffuse mucosal haemorrhage due to thrombocytopenia.• Of these 67 patients, most were cases of diffuse oesophageal spasm or hypertensive lower oesophageal sphincter.• The new opposition party continues to be a diffuse organization.

Origin diffuse1

(1300-1400) Old French diffuser, from Latin diffusus, past participle of diffundere “to spread out”

diffuse2

(1400-1500) Latin diffusus; → DIFFUSE1

dif·fuse1 verbdif·fuse2 adjectiveadj

Chinese

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Corpus