In physics, diffraction is a change in the direction of a sound wave or a light wave caused by the presence of an obstacle in its path.
...the diffraction of light that occurs in natural phenomena such as rainbows.
diffraction in British English
(dɪˈfrækʃən)
noun
1. physics
a deviation in the direction of a wave at the edge of an obstacle in its path
2.
any phenomenon caused by diffraction and interference of light, such as the formation of light and dark fringes by the passage of light through a small aperture
3.
deflection of sound waves caused by an obstacle or by nonhomogeneity of a medium
Word origin
C17: from New Latin diffractiō a breaking to pieces, from Latin diffringere to shatter, from dis- apart + frangere to break
diffraction in American English
(dɪˈfrækʃən)
noun
1.
the breaking up of a ray of light into dark and light bands or into the colors of the spectrum, caused by the interference of one part of a beam with another, as when the ray is deflected at the edge of an opaque object or passes through a narrow slit
2.
a similar breaking up of other waves, as of sound or electricity