disperse
[ dih-spurs ]
/ dɪˈspɜrs /
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
OTHER WORDS FROM disperse
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British Dictionary definitions for dispersing
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, nounWord 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 dispersing
disperse
[ dĭ-spûrs′ ]
v.
To cause to separate and move in different directions; scatter.
To cause to vanish or disappear.