Meaning & Definition of word "Disperse"
to
Disperse
/dɪsˈpɜːrs/
verb:
- 1. to distribute or spread over a wide area
- Example: The seeds will disperse across the field with the help of the wind.
- 2. to cause to vanish or disappear
- Example: The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd that had gathered.
- 3. to break up and scatter in different directions
- Example: As the concert ended, the audience began to disperse.
- 4. to distribute or spread out from a central point
- Example: The scientists observed how the chemicals would disperse in water.
Etymology
Late Middle English, from Latin 'dispersus', from 'dis-' + 'spargere' meaning to scatter.
Common Phrases and Expressions
disperse into the crowd:
to blend into a group of people
disperse information:
to spread information widely
disperse tension:
to alleviate a tense situation
Related Words
dispersion:
the act of distributing or spreading things or people over a wide area
dispersive:
having the ability to spread or scatter
spender:
one who spends, often in relation to a dispersive behavior in terms of resources
Slang Meanings of disperse
Meaning: to break up a group
Example Sentence: The party got a bit dull, so we decided to disperse.
Meaning: to bail or leave quickly
Example Sentence: When the cops showed up, we all started to disperse.