First Known Use: 15th century
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
Related to DISSIPATE
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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