diffusion

noun

dif·​fu·​sion di-ˈfyü-zhən 

1

: the state of being spread out or transmitted especially by contact : the action of diffusing

the diffusion of knowledge

2

: prolixity, diffuseness

3

a

chemistry : the process whereby particles of liquids, gases, or solids intermingle as the result of their spontaneous movement caused by thermal (see thermal entry 1 sense 1b) agitation and in dissolved substances move from a region of higher to one of lower concentration

b physics

(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

photography : the softening of sharp outlines in an image

diffusional

di-ˈfyü-zhə-nᵊl 

adjective

Synonyms

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

Example Sentences

the author's tendency toward diffusion makes the novel a tedious read

Recent Examples on the Web

As the researchers of the preprint note in their introduction: Drawing on the Swiss Cheese Model of Pandemic Defense, every layer of the healthcare AI ecosystem currently contains large holes that make the broad diffusion of poorly performing products inevitable. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 2 May 2023

Today, the apps are much better, thanks to diffusion models. —Ryan Cross, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Dec. 2022

This illustrates the subtle but important difference between cultural diffusion through flow of ideas vs. replacement of populations. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2011

As mentioned before, zinc is also involved in the diffusion of taste stimuli in one's taste buds and is sometimes used as a treatment for taste disorders as a result. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 6 May 2023

The smallest, ultra-fine particles are captured by diffusion (while zig-zagging the particle will eventually hit and stick to the fiber). —Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 2 May 2023

Latent diffusion models encode images and their text captions into vectors (basically a unique numerical representation for each image). —IEEE Spectrum, 27 Apr. 2023

Meta announces Make-A-Video, which generates video from text [Updated] Only six months after the launch of OpenAI's DALLE-2 text-to-image generator, progress in the field of AI diffusion models has been heating up rapidly. —Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 5 Oct. 2022

Our perception of diffusion has to do with the coarseness of our measurements. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 7 July 2011

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English diffusioun "outpouring (of speech)," borrowed from Late Latin diffūsiōn-, diffūsiō "pouring out (of liquids), watering of the eyes, abundance" (Latin, "geniality"), from Latin diffud-, variant stem of diffundere "to pour out over a wide surface, spread out, extend" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at diffuse entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

diffusion

noun

dif·​fu·​sion dif-ˈyü-zhən 

1

: a diffusing or a being diffused

2

: the mixing of particles of liquids, gases, or solids so that they move from a region of high concentration to one of lower concentration

3

: the scattering of light by reflection from a rough surface or by passage through a translucent material (as frosted glass)

Medical Definition

diffusion

noun

dif·​fu·​sion dif-ˈyü-zhən 

1

: 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

2

a

: reflection of light by a rough reflecting surface

b

: transmission of light through a translucent material

diffusional

-ˈyüzh-nəl, -ən-ᵊl 

adjective