English Explanatory Dictionary

disperse

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To scatter in different directions.
  2. To break up and disappear; to dissipate.
  3. To disseminate.
  4. To separate rays of light, etc., according to wavelength; to refract.
  5. To distribute throughout.
adj
  1. Scattered or spread out.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈspɜːs/ /dɪˈspɝs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Mélange a trois-disperse.wav

Word forms

disperse disperses dispersing dispersed more disperse most disperse

Etymology

From Middle French disperser, from Latin dispersus, past participle of dispergō (“to scatter abroad, disperse”), from dis- (“apart”) + spargō (“to scatter”); see sparse.

Synonyms

besprenge broadcast desparple discuss disgregate disparkle disparple dispel disperple disperse distribute dwindle straggle flurr insperse instrew litter overshake resperse scatter squander sparble sparkle sparse sperse spread springe strew strinkle todrive togo torat whiffle destroy annihilate aerosolize atomize benothing bewreck blot out blotto dash decompose demolish desolate devastate diffuse disintegrate dissolve eliminate eradicate erase exterminate extinguish extirpate fordo fuck harry jazz lay waste

Antonyms

assemble collect round up

Related words

dispersal dispersible dispersion

Derived words

dedisperse dispersable dispersant disperser dispersingly dispersity dispersive dispersoid dispersometer nondispersing overdisperse redisperse undispersing bidisperse disperseness disperse phase heterodisperse isodisperse monodisperse nanodisperse paucidisperse polydisperse
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