Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Spread out over a wide area; not concentrated: Describes something that is scattered, dispersed, or not focused in one place.
   • Lacking conciseness; wordy: Describes speech or writing that is long-winded and not direct or succinct.
   • (Of light) spread out; not focused into a beam: Describes light that is scattered, often by reflection or transmission through a translucent material, reducing shadows.

2. Verb:

   • To spread or cause to spread over a wide area: To disperse or scatter something, or to become dispersed.
   • To cause (information, knowledge, a feeling) to become widely known or felt: To disseminate or circulate something intangible.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The organization has a diffuse structure with offices in many countries.
  • Her writing style is often diffuse and difficult to follow.
  • The room was lit by the soft, diffuse light from the cloudy sky.

• Verb:

  • The smoke diffused slowly throughout the room.
  • The organization aims to diffuse knowledge about climate change.
  • A sense of panic began to diffuse through the crowd.

Advanced Usage

• "To diffuse a situation": To reduce the tension or danger in a conflict.
  • The police officer tried to diffuse the tense argument.
• "Diffusely" (adverb): In a spread-out or wordy manner.
  • The population is diffusely scattered across the islands.
  • He spoke diffusely about the topic without reaching a clear point.

Variants and Related Words

• Diffusion (noun): The process of spreading or being spread.
  • The diffusion of innovation is a key topic in sociology.
• Diffuseness (noun): The quality of being wordy or spread out.
  • The diffuseness of the report made it hard to summarize.
• Diffuser (noun): A device that spreads something out, such as light or scent.
  • She used a diffuser for the essential oils.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Scattered, dispersed, spread out, wordy, verbose, rambling, soft (light).
• Verb: Disperse, scatter, spread, disseminate, circulate, propagate, permeate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Diffuse" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. The verb itself carries the meaning of spreading out.)

Related Idioms

• "To diffuse the tension": A common collocation meaning to make a tense situation less intense.
  • He told a joke to diffuse the tension in the meeting.

Adjective

1. lacking conciseness
   • a diffuse historical novel
2. (of light) transmitted from a broad light source or reflected
3. spread out; not concentrated in one place
   • a large diffuse organization

Verb

1. cause to become widely known
   • spread information
   • circulate a rumor
   • broadcast the news
2. spread or diffuse through
   • An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration
   • music penetrated the entire building
   • His campaign was riddled with accusations and personal attacks
3. move outward
   • The soldiers fanned out