diffuse
v.v. to spread something out over a wide area so it becomes less strong or concentrated.
v. to spread or cause to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people. Often describes the physical movement of particles or the abstract distribution of ideas and power.
The scent of the flowers began to diffuse through the room.
The new management structure aims to diffuse decision-making power across all regional offices rather than keeping it at headquarters.
In a process of cultural exchange, technological innovations often diffuse across borders, eventually becoming integrated into the daily lives of populations far from the original source.
From Middle French diffuser, from Latin diffūsus, past participle of diffundere, from dis- + fundere.
From Middle English *diffuse (attested in adverb diffuseli), from Latin diffūsus.
Can be used both transitively (to diffuse something) and intransitively (something diffuses).
The light was very diffuse.The light was very diffused.While 'diffuse' is an adjective, learners often use the base verb form where the past participle 'diffused' or the distinct adjective 'diffuse' (pronounced differently) is required to describe a state.