disperse

[ dih-spurs ]
/ dɪˈspɜrs /
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verb (used with object), dis·persed, dis·pers·ing.

verb (used without object), dis·persed, dis·pers·ing.

to separate and move apart in different directions without order or regularity; become scattered: The crowd dispersed.
to be dispelled; be scattered out of sight; vanish: The smoke dispersed into the sky.

adjective

Physical Chemistry. noting the dispersed particles in a dispersion.

Origin of disperse

1350–1400; Middle English dispersen, disparsen (< Middle French disperser) < Latin dispersus (past participle of dispergere), equivalent to di- di-2 + -sper(g)- scatter (stem of -spergere, combining form of spargere to scatter, strew) + -sus past participle suffix

SYNONYMS FOR disperse

1 See scatter.
2 sow, broadcast.
7 disappear, evanesce.
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OTHER WORDS FROM disperse

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH disperse

disperse disburse disperse dispose

Words nearby disperse

dispermy, dispersal, dispersal prison, dispersal zone, dispersant, disperse, disperse dye, disperse phase, disperse system, dispersion, dispersion hardening

Words related to dispersible

solvable, solvent, dissoluble, dissolvable, emulsifiable, resolvable

British Dictionary definitions for dispersible

disperse
/ (dɪˈspɜːs) /

verb

adjective

of or consisting of the particles in a colloid or suspension disperse phase

Derived forms of disperse

dispersedly (dɪˈspɜːsɪdlɪ), adverb disperser, noun

Word Origin for disperse

C14: from Latin dispērsus scattered, from dispergere to scatter widely, from di- ² + spargere to strew

undefined disperse

See disburse

Medical definitions for dispersible

disperse
[ dĭ-spûrs′ ]

v.

To cause to separate and move in different directions; scatter.
To cause to vanish or disappear.