diffusion

dif·fu·sion

noun \di-ˈfyü-zhən\

Definition of DIFFUSION

1

: the action of diffusing : the state of being diffused

2

: prolixity, diffuseness

3

a : the process whereby particles of liquids, gases, or solids intermingle as the result of their spontaneous movement caused by thermal agitation and in dissolved substances move from a region of higher to one of lower concentration b (1) : reflection of light by a rough reflecting surface (2) : transmission of light through a translucent material : scattering

4

: the spread of cultural elements from one area or group of people to others by contact

5

: the softening of sharp outlines in a photographic image

— dif·fu·sion·al \-ˈfyü-zhə-n^əl\ adjective

Examples of DIFFUSION

1. <the author's tendency toward diffusion makes the novel a tedious read>

First Known Use of DIFFUSION

14th century

Related to DIFFUSION

Synonyms: circumlocution, diffuseness, verbiage, garrulity, garrulousness, logorrhea, long-windedness, periphrasis, prolixity, redundancy, verbalism, verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordage, wordiness

Related Words: circuitousness, circularity, digressiveness; pleonasm, tautology; reiteration, repetition, repetitiousness, repetitiveness; embellishment, embroidering, exaggeration, hyperbole, overstatement

Near Antonyms: brevity, briefness, compactness, conciseness, concision, crispness, pithiness, succinctness, terseness

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Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

Rhymes with DIFFUSION

affusion, allusion, Carthusian, collusion, conclusion, confusion, contusion, delusion, effusion, elusion, exclusion, extrusion, illusion, inclusion, infusion, intrusion, Malthusian, obtrusion, occlusion, perfusion, prelusion, profusion, prolusion, protrusion, reclusion, seclusion, transfusion, Venusian