dissipate

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verb dis·si·pate \ˈdi-sə-ˌpāt\

Definition of dissipate

dissipated

;

dissipating

transitive verb
1a : to break up and drive off dissipate a crowdb : to cause to spread thin or scatter and gradually vanish one's sympathy is eventually dissipated — Andrew Feinbergc physics : to lose (heat, electricity, etc.) irrecoverably
2 : to spend or use up wastefully or foolishly dissipated the family fortune in reckless business ventures
intransitive verb
1 : to break up and scatter or vanish The clouds dissipated and the sun came out. The team's early momentum has dissipated.
2 : to be extravagant or dissolute in the pursuit of pleasure; especially : to drink to excess his extended dissipating of the night before

dissipater

noun

See dissipate defined for English-language learners

See dissipate defined for kids

Examples of dissipate in a Sentence

The morning sun dissipated the fog.
The fog should dissipate soon.

Origin and Etymology of dissipate

Latin dissipatus, past participle of dissipare, dissupare, from dis- + supare to throw

First Known Use: 15th century

Synonym Discussion of dissipate

scatter, disperse, dissipate, dispel mean to cause to separate or break up. scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions. the bowling ball scattered the pins disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group. police dispersed the crowd dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance. the fog was dissipated by the morning sun dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering. an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

DISSIPATE Defined for English Language Learners

dissipate

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verb dis·si·pate \ˈdi-sə-ˌpāt\

Definition of dissipate for English Language Learners

: to cause (something) to spread out and disappear
: to separate into parts and disappear or go away
: to use all or a lot of (something, such as money or time) in a foolish way

DISSIPATE Defined for Kids

dissipate

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verb dis·si·pate \ˈdi-sə-ˌpāt\

Definition of dissipate for Students

dissipated

;

dissipating

1 : to cause to break up and disappear: disperse The wind dissipated the clouds.
2 : to scatter or waste foolishly : squander He dissipated his saved allowance.

Law Dictionary

dissipate

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transitive verb dis·si·pate \ˈdi-sə-ˌpāt\

Legal Definition of dissipate

dissipated

dissipating

: to use (marital assets) for one's own benefit and to the exclusion of one's spouse for a purpose unrelated to the marriage at a time when the marriage is undergoing an irretrievable breakdown