the act or process of diffusing or being diffused; dispersion
2.
verbosity
3. physics
a.
the random thermal motion of atoms, molecules, clusters of atoms, etc, in gases, liquids, and some solids
b.
the transfer of atoms or molecules by their random motion from one part of a medium to another
4. physics
the transmission or reflection of electromagnetic radiation, esp light, in which the radiation is scattered in many directions and not directly reflected or refracted; scattering
5. Also called: diffusivity physics
the degree to which the directions of propagation of reverberant sound waves differ from point to point in an enclosure
6. anthropology
the transmission of social institutions, skills, and myths from one culture to another
diffusion in American English
(dɪˈfjuʒən)
noun
1.
a diffusing or being diffused
; specif.,
a.
a dissemination, as of news
b.
a scattering of light rays, as by reflection; also, the dispersion and softening of light, as by passage through frosted glass
c.
an intermingling of the molecules of liquids, gases, etc.
2.
wordiness; diffuseness
3. Anthropology
the spread of a cultural or technological practice or innovation from one region or people to another, as by trade or conquest
Word origin
ME diffusioun < L diffusio
diffusion in Chemical Engineering
(dɪfyuʒən)
noun
(Chemical Engineering: General)
Diffusion is the movement of a solute in a solvent, which is controlled by a gradient in concentration.
Diffusion of a solute in a solvent is caused by a concentration gradient.
Diffusion is the movement of a substance from an area of higher concentration to an area oflower concentration.
Diffusion is the movement of a solute in a solvent, which is controlled by a gradient in concentration.
diffusion in Mechanical Engineering
(dɪfyuʒən)
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Energy, thermodynamics and heat transfer)
Diffusion is the movement of atoms in a material from areas of high to low concentration.
Heat can increase the diffusion of carbon into the workpiece surface.
Atoms move from areas of high to low concentration by diffusion.
Diffusion is the movement of atoms in a material from areas of high to low concentration.
Examples of 'diffusion' in a sentence
diffusion
`The T-shirts and the graffiti stuff are for a diffusion collection.
Cathy Kelly JUST BETWEEN US (2002)
`I spent all morning trying to draw the inside of a diffusion en-larger.
Lowry, Lois ANASTASIA KRUPNIK (3-IN-1) (2002)
Squill said, "One of the reasons this case is going nowhere is diffusion.
Jack Kerley THE HUNDREDTH MAN (2002)
Synonyms of 'diffusion'
spreading, distribution, scattering, circulation
rambling, wandering, verbiage, wordiness
More Synonyms of diffusion
1 (noun)
Definition
the act of diffusing or the fact of being diffused
the development and diffusion of ideas
Synonyms
spreading
distribution
There will be a widespread distribution of leaflets.
scattering
circulation
measures inhibiting the circulation of useful information
expansion
the rapid expansion of private health insurance
propagation
working towards the propagation of true Buddhism
dissemination
the dissemination of scientific ideas
dispersal
the plants' mechanisms of dispersal of their spores
dispersion
dissipation
the dissipation of heat
2 (noun)
Synonyms
rambling
wandering
verbiage
His writing is full of pretentious and self-indulgent verbiage.
wordiness
verbosity
the pedantry and verbosity of his public speeches
diffuseness
prolixity
long-windedness
discursiveness
circuitousness
digressiveness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of circuitousness
Synonyms
indirectness,
rambling,
deviousness,
obliqueness,
roundaboutness,
tortuousness
in the sense of circulation
Definition
the distribution of newspapers or magazines
measures inhibiting the circulation of useful information
Synonyms
spread,
distribution,
transmission,
dissemination
in the sense of dispersal
the plants' mechanisms of dispersal of their spores