First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
disperse
verb dis·perse \di-ˈspərs\
: to go or move in different directions : to spread apart
dis·perseddis·pers·ing
Full Definition of DISPERSE
transitive verb
1
a : to cause to break up <police dispersed the crowd> b : to cause to become spread widely c : to cause to evaporate or vanish <sunlight dispersing the mist>
2
: to spread or distribute from a fixed or constant source: as a archaic : disseminate b : to subject (as light) to dispersion c : to distribute (as fine particles) more or less evenly throughout a medium
intransitive verb
1
: to break up in random fashion <the crowd dispersed on request>
2
— dis·persed·ly \-ˈspər-səd-lē, -ˈspərst-lē\ adverb
— dis·pers·er noun
— dis·pers·ible \-ˈspər-sə-bəl\ adjective
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Origin of DISPERSE
Middle English, from Latin dispersus, past participle of dispergere to scatter, from dis- + spargere to scatter — more at spark
Related to DISPERSE
- Synonyms
- disassemble, dissipate, dissolve, scatter
- Antonyms
- assemble, cluster, collect, concentrate, congregate, gather, ingather
Synonym Discussion of DISPERSE
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>.
DISPERSED Defined for Kids
disperse
verb dis·perse \di-ˈspərs\
dis·perseddis·pers·ing
Definition of DISPERSE for Kids
: to break up and scatter <The clouds dispersed.>
Medical Dictionary
disperse
verb dis·perse \dis-ˈpərs\
dis·perseddis·pers·ing
Medical Definition of DISPERSE
transitive verb
: to spread or distribute from a fixed or constant source: as a : to subject (as light) to dispersion b : to distribute (as fine particles) more or less evenly throughout a medium
intransitive verb
: to become dispersed
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