disperse

[dih-spurs]

verb (used with object)

dispersed, dispersing 

1. to drive or send off in various directions; scatter.

   to disperse a crowd.

   Antonyms: collect, combine

2. to spread widely; disseminate.

   to disperse knowledge.

   Synonyms: broadcast, sow

3. to dispel; cause to vanish.

   The wind dispersed the fog.

4. Physical Chemistry.,  to cause (particles) to separate uniformly throughout a solid, liquid, or gas.

5. Optics.,  to subject (light) to dispersion.

verb (used without object)

dispersed, dispersing 

1. to separate and move apart in different directions without order or regularity; become scattered.

   The crowd dispersed.

2. to be dispelled; be scattered out of sight; vanish.

   The smoke dispersed into the sky.

   Synonyms: evanesce, disappear

adjective

1. Physical Chemistry.,  noting the dispersed particles in a dispersion.

disperse

/ dɪˈspɜːsɪdlɪ, dɪˈspɜːs /

verb

1. to scatter; distribute over a wide area

2. to dissipate or cause to dissipate

3. to leave or cause to leave a gathering, often in a random manner

4. to separate or be separated by dispersion

5. (tr) to diffuse or spread (news, information, etc)

6. to separate (particles) throughout a solid, liquid, or gas, as in the formation of a suspension or colloid

adjective

1. of or consisting of the particles in a colloid or suspension

   disperse phase

Other Word Forms

• disperser noun
• dispersedly adverb
• dispersibility noun
• dispersible adjective
• predisperse verb (used with object)
• redisperse verb
• undispersed adjective
• undispersing adjective
• well-dispersed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disperse¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English dispersen, disparsen (from Middle French disperser, ) from Latin dispersus (past participle of dispergere ), equivalent to di- di- ² + -sper(g)- “scatter” (stem of -spergere, combining form of spargere “to scatter, strew”) + -sus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of disperse¹

C14: from Latin dispērsus scattered, from dispergere to scatter widely, from _di- ² + spargere to strew

Synonym Study

See scatter.

Example Sentences

Over the weekend, protests continued, with police in central Jakarta firing tear gas to disperse crowds on the streets, while some demonstrators throwing Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at a police compound.

From BBC

"Around 500 protesters were in the area, but most people have now dispersed from the immediate vicinity."

From BBC

The IDF investigation centres on why the missile delivering the bombs was not intercepted before they had been dispersed, according to Israeli media.

From BBC

Edison has disputed that theory and said in court that the electrical surge caused by the failure of equipment at the tower by the nursery safely dispersed.

From Los Angeles Times

A large crowd of partygoers was gathered in the street, and the officers requested backup from the Glendora, West Covina and Azusa police to help disperse the crowd and contain the crime scene, police said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• break up 
• circulate 
• diffuse 
• disappear 
• disband 
• discharge 
• dislodge 
• dispel 
• dissipate 
• dissolve 
• scatter 
• separate 
• spray 
• spread 
• vanish