different between diffusive vs extensive

English

Etymology

From post-classical Latin diffusivus (“tending to spread; expansive”) (13th century), from participle stem of Latin diffundere (“diffuse, disperse”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??fju?s?v/

Adjective

diffusive (comparative more diffusive, superlative most diffusive)

1. That is spread or dispersed across a wide area or among a large number of people. [from 17th c.]
2. Involving or employing many words; expansive, discursive; (in negative sense) long-winded. [from 17th c.]
   • 1791, Edward Gibbon, Memoirs of My Life, Penguin 1990, p. 182:

     I can never forget the delight with which that diffusive and ingenious orator was heard by all sides of the House, and even by those whose existence he proscribed.

3. That diffuses something; disseminating. [from 17th c.]
4. (sciences) Pertaining to diffusion. [from 19th c.]

Derived terms

• diffusive equilibrium

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /di.fy.ziv/
• Homophone: diffusives

Adjective

diffusive

1. feminine singular of diffusif

Italian

Adjective

diffusive

1. feminine plural of diffusivo

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /dif.fu??si?.u?e/, [d??f?u??s?i?u??]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /dif.fu?si.ve/, [d?if?u?s?i?v?]

Adjective

diff?s?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of diff?s?vus

English

Etymology

From late Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin extens?vus, from Latin extensus.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?ks?t?n.s?v/

Adjective

extensive (comparative more extensive, superlative most extensive)

1. having a great extent; covering a large area; vast
2. (figuratively) considerable in amount.

   I have done extensive research on the subject.

3. Serving to extend or lengthen; characterized by extension
4. (physics) Having a combined system entropy that equals the sum of the entropies of the independent systems.

Derived terms

• extensive property

Related terms

• extend
• extense
• extent

Translations

See also

• intensive

French

Adjective

extensive

1. feminine singular of extensif

Latin

Adjective

ext?ns?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of ext?ns?vus