different between diffuse vs lampshade

English

Etymology 1

From Middle French diffuser, from Latin diff?sus, past participle of diffundere, from dis- + fundere

Pronunciation

• enPR: d?fyo?oz'
• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??fju?z/
• (US) IPA^(key): /d??fjuz/
• Rhymes: -u?z
• Homophone: defuse

Verb

diffuse (third-person singular simple present diffuses, present participle diffusing, simple past and past participle diffused)

1. (transitive) To spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means.
   • 1837, William Whewell, History of the Inductive Sciences

     We find this knowledge diffused among all civilized nations.

2. (intransitive) To be spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means.

   Food coloring diffuses in water.

   The riot diffused quite suddenly.

Usage notes

The words diffuse and defuse are sometimes confused.

Synonyms

• forspread

Derived terms

• diffuser

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English *diffuse (attested in adverb diffuseli), from Latin diff?sus.

Pronunciation

• enPR: d?fyo?os'
• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??fju?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /d??fjus/
• Rhymes: -u?s

Adjective

diffuse (comparative more diffuse, superlative most diffuse)

1. Everywhere or throughout everything; not focused or concentrated.

   Such a diffuse effort is unlikely to produce good results.

2. Wordy; verbose.

Synonyms

• (not concentrated): spread out, thin; see also Thesaurus:diffuse
• (verbose): palaverous, prolix; see also Thesaurus:verbose

Derived terms

• diffusely

Translations

Related terms

• diffusion

References

• diffuse in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• Duffies

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /di.fyz/

Verb

diffuse

1. inflection of diffuser:
   1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative

Adjective

diffuse

1. feminine singular of diffus

German

Adjective

diffuse

1. inflection of diffus:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Italian

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -uze

Verb

diffuse

1. third-person singular past historic of diffondere

Participle

diffuse

1. feminine plural of diffuso

Adjective

diffuse

1. feminine plural of diffuso

Latin

Etymology

From diff?sus (“scattered, spread”)

Adverb

diff?s? (comparative diff?sius, superlative diff?sissim?)

1. diffusely, in a scattered manner.
2. copiously, fully

Related terms

• diff?sus

References

• diffuse in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, 1st edition. (Oxford University Press)

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

diffuse

1. definite singular of diffus
2. plural of diffus

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

diffuse

1. definite singular of diffus
2. plural of diffus

English

Etymology

lamp +? shade. The verb sense comes from the idea of making something more conspicuous by hanging a lampshade on it.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) enPR: l?mp'sh?d, IPA^(key): /?læmp.?e?d/

Noun

lampshade (plural lampshades)

1. A cover over a lamp to either diffuse the light or to block it in certain directions to avoid glare in the eyes.

Translations

Derived terms

• radiation lampshade

Verb

lampshade (third-person singular simple present lampshades, present participle lampshading, simple past and past participle lampshaded)

1. (narratology, fandom slang) To intentionally call attention to the improbable, incongruent, or clichéd nature of an element or situation featured in a work of fiction within the work itself.
   • 2011, Corinne Gaston, "Adapted comic book flick has the ring, but no power", Daily Trojan, 21 June 2011:

     Only one short bit of humor is endearing, lampshading the ridiculousness of an eye-mask being able to conceal a superhero's identity.
2. (fashion) To wear an oversize top with skintight thigh-high boots and no leggings.
3. To adorn with one or more lampshades.
4. To design or create lampshades.

Quotations

• For more quotations using this term, see Citations:lampshade.

Anagrams

• headlamps