Dictionary

dissipate

verb dis·si·pate \ˈdi-sə-ˌpāt\

: to cause (something) to spread out and disappear

: to separate into parts and disappear or go away

: to use all or a lot of (something, such as money or time) in a foolish way

dis·si·pat·eddis·si·pat·ing

Full Definition of DISSIPATE

transitive verb
1
a :  to break up and drive off (as a crowd)
b :  to cause to spread thin or scatter and gradually vanish <one's sympathy is eventually dissipated — Andrew Feinberg>
c :  to lose (as heat or electricity) irrecoverably
2
:  to spend or use up wastefully or foolishly <dissipated the family fortune in reckless business ventures>
intransitive verb
1
:  to break up and scatter or vanish <the clouds soon dissipated> <the team's early momentum has dissipated>
2
:  to be extravagant or dissolute in the pursuit of pleasure; especially :  to drink to excess
dis·si·pat·er noun
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Origin of DISSIPATE

Latin dissipatus, past participle of dissipare, dissupare, from dis- + supare to throw
First Known Use: 15th century

Synonym Discussion of DISSIPATE

scatter, disperse, dissipate, dispel mean to cause to separate or break up. scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions <the bowling ball scattered the pins>. disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group <police dispersed the crowd>. dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance <the fog was dissipated by the morning sun>. dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering <an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt>.

Rhymes with DISSIPATE

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DISSIPATING Defined for Kids

dissipate

verb dis·si·pate \ˈdi-sə-ˌpāt\
dis·si·pat·eddis·si·pat·ing

Definition of DISSIPATE for Kids

1
:  to cause to break up and disappear:  disperse <The wind dissipated the clouds.>
2
:  to scatter or waste foolishly :  squander <He dissipated his saved allowance.>

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