From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdiffusedif‧fuse1 /dɪˈfjuːz/ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]SPREAD to make heat, light, liquid etc spread through something, or to spread like thisdiffuse through/into/across The pollutants diffuse into the soil.2 SPREAD[intransitive, transitive] to spread ideas or information among a lot of people, or to spread like this Their ideas diffused quickly across Europe.3 [transitive] to make a bad feeling or situation less strong or serious an attempt to diffuse his anger —diffusion /dɪˈfjuːʒən/ noun [uncountable]→ See Verb table
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.diffusedif‧fuse2 /dɪˈfjuːs/ adjective 1 SPREADspread over a large area The organization is large and diffuse.2 CONFUSEDusing a lot of words and not explaining things clearly and directly His writing is diffuse and difficult to understand. —diffuseness noun [uncountable]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 