Disperse

/dɪsˈpɜːrs/

Meaning & Definition

verb
to distribute or spread over a wide area
The seeds will disperse across the field with the help of the wind.
to cause to vanish or disappear
The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd that had gathered.
to break up and scatter in different directions
As the concert ended, the audience began to disperse.
to distribute or spread out from a central point
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

to break up a group
The party got a bit dull, so we decided to disperse.
to bail or leave quickly
When the cops showed up, we all started to disperse.