diffuse

diffuse

CEFR: C1-C2 /dif-fuse/ [d.ih0.f.y.uw1.s]

If a gas or a substance diffuses or is diffused through something, it means to move and spread through it. For example

Example Sentences:
Nicotine diffuses slowly and steadily into the bloodstream
Oxygen diffuses through the cell membrane.
Cell membranes are very thin to allow materials to diffuse through them easily.
Oxygen diffuses from the lungs into the bloodstream.

The word "diffuse" can be used an adjective to describe something that is spread out or to describe a speech or writing that is vague and unclear. For example:

Example Sentences:
His writing is so diffuse and obscure that it is difficult to make out what it is he is trying to say.
A diffuse speech is scattered and unclear.
The forest was filled with a soft, diffuse light.

If something diffuses light, it makes the light shine less brightly by spreading it in many directions. For example:

Example Sentences:
The moon was fuller than the night before, but the light was diffused by cloud.
The photographer uses a screen to diffuse the light.

If something such as knowledge or information is diffused or diffuses somewhere, it is made known over a wide area or to a lot of people. You will also see the usages of "diffuse knowledge or information". Here are example sentences:

Example Sentences:
The Asian culture gradually diffused westward.
Over time, the technology is diffused and adopted by other countries.
As agriculture developed, agricultural ideas diffused across Europe.
Technologies diffuse rapidly.

The word "diffuse" can be a verb or an adjective.

If a gas, heat or liquid diffuses or is diffused, it becomes spread widely in all directions. For example:

Example Sentences:
The heat was diffused throughout the room.
The drop of red dye diffused slowly in the water.
The heat from the radiator diffuses throughout the room.