effuse

1 of 2

verb

ef·​fuse i-ˈfyüz 

e-

effused; effusing

transitive verb

: to pour out (a liquid)

intransitive verb

1

: to flow out : emanate

2

: to make a great or excessive display of enthusiasm

they effused about his accomplishments

effuse

2 of 2

adjective

ef·​fuse i-ˈfyüs 

e-

: diffuse

specifically : spread out flat without definite form

effuse lichens

Synonyms

Verb

• drool
• enthuse
• fuss
• gush
• rave
• rhapsodize
• slobber

Examples of effuse in a Sentence

Verb

pundits who should have known better effused endlessly about this idealistic but naive senator

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Noxious volcanic gases may also be a problem—in particular, sulfur dioxide, which effuses from shallow magma. —Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2024

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton effused that Gaddafi’s ouster and death marked smart diplomacy at its best. —Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 2 Feb. 2024

Here are the meadows effusing and fermenting—spontaneously erupting. —John Kinsella, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023

Ben Stas for The Boston Globe/The Boston Globe Later, as night fell over the festival’s iconic Ferris wheel, a technically audacious 90-minute set from Australia’s King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard had hardcore fans effusing over the band’s relentless leveling-up. —James Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 29 May 2023

Now, at least outwardly, Felker effuses positivity and displays wry humor onstage. —Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 3 May 2023

Bleeding back into the environment, spores effuse from the corpse to infect again. —Kyle Hill, Discover Magazine, 25 June 2013

In the weeks before the appearance of those lava-effusing fissures on its eastern flanks, the volcano had been inflating. —Robin George Andrews, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2020

The Eritrean leader also effused about the new era of friendly relations between the two countries. —Elias Meseret, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Latin effūsus, past participle of effundere "to pour out, discharge, expend," from ef- ex- entry 1 + fundere "to pour, shed" — more at found entry 5

Adjective

borrowed from Latin effūsus — more at effuse entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1526, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Adjective

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

effuse

adjective

ef·​fuse i-ˈfyüs, e- 

: spread out flat without definite form

an effuse colony of bacteria