effuse

1 of 2

verb

ef·​fuse i-ˈfyüz How to pronounce effuse (audio)
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 How to pronounce effuse (audio)
e-
: diffuse
specifically : spread out flat without definite form
effuse lichens

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
Into a routine casting call one afternoon walks Michael, an Ohio ice-cream truck driver effusing sappy memories of watching the series every morning with his family over bacon and eggs. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 As if the sun had decided freckles were simply too mundane for someone like him, his skin seemed to be effused with golden flecks. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2024 Even though executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias doesn’t want to effuse any notes of panic, the Orioles fit the mold of an aggressive deadline buyer. Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2024 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'effuse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of effuse was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near effuse

Cite this Entry

“Effuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/effuse. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

effuse

adjective
ef·​fuse i-ˈfyüs, e- How to pronounce effuse (audio)
: spread out flat without definite form
an effuse colony of bacteria
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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