Diffusion

//dɪˈfjuː.ʒən// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The act of diffusing or dispersing something, or the property of being diffused or dispersed; dispersion. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    the act of dispersing or diffusing something wordnet
  3. 3
    The scattering of light by reflection from a rough surface, or by passage through a translucent medium. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    the property of being diffused or dispersed wordnet
  5. 5
    The intermingling of the molecules of a fluid due to random thermal agitation. countable, uncountable

    "gaseous diffusion"

Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    the spread of social institutions (and myths and skills) from one society to another wordnet
  2. 7
    The spread of cultural or linguistic practices, or social institutions, in one or more communities. countable, uncountable

    "Even the false-necked vase, though it reaches its widest diffusion at this epoch, is, as we have seen, a type found existing in much earlier strata."

  3. 8
    (physics) the process in which there is movement of a substance from an area of high concentration of that substance to an area of lower concentration wordnet
  4. 9
    The gradual spread and adoption of goods or services. countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    Exchange of airborne media between regions in space in an apparently random motion of a small scale. countable, uncountable
  6. 11
    The movement of water vapor from regions of high concentration (high water vapor pressure) toward regions of lower concentration. countable, uncountable

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin diffūsiō, from diffundō; can be decomposed as diffuse + -ion.

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