Diffusion
/dɪˈfjuːʒən/noun
The spreading of something more widely, especially particles, light, or ideas.
Did you know?Diffusion comes from Latin *diffundere*, meaning “to pour out,” built from *dis-* (“apart”) + *fundere* (“to pour”), the same ancient root behind words tied to pouring and melting away.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷheu-
“to pour, spill, or shed”
Latin
Latin
fundere
“to pour out, shed, or spill”
Classical Latin
Latin
diffundere
“to pour out in different directions; to spread widely”
Late Latin
Latin
diffusio
“a pouring out, spreading, or dispersion”
14th–15th Century
Old French
diffusion
“the act of spreading or pouring out”
16th Century
English
diffusion
“the act or process of spreading widely”