diffusive
Tending to scatter
Diffusive describes something that spreads outward or disperses gradually, like a gas expanding to fill a space or light scattering through fog.
In scientific contexts, it refers specifically to the process of diffusion—the movement of particles from areas of higher concentration to lower: diffusive transport of molecules across a membrane.
More loosely, diffusive can describe writing or speech that wanders without focus, spreading thin rather than staying concentrated.
Solvent crossing semipermeable barrier
- permeationProcess of spreading throughout
- seepageSlow fluid escape
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- percolationLiquid passing through pores
absorption · penetration · transudation · leaching · suffusion · capillarity · porosity · permeable
Murky atmospheric suspension
- turbidityCloudiness from suspended particles
- opalescenceMilky, shifting luster
- cloudinessAtmospheric opacity from vapor
- refractionWave bending between media
dispersion · deflection · diffraction · mist · fog · translucence · softening · attenuation
Scattering across space
- disseminationWide distribution of information
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- dispersalSpreading in many directions
transmission · circulation · expansion · migration · radiation · proliferation · broadcast · scatter
Unclear, ill-defined
- scatteredSpread irregularly about
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- indistinctUnclear, hard to perceive
- hazyUnclear, indistinct
blurry · unclear · ill-defined · fuzzy · rambling · meandering · undirected · disorganized
osmosis
Solvent crossing semipermeable barrier
- permeationProcess of spreading throughout
- seepageSlow fluid escape
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
percolation · absorption · penetration · transudation · leaching · suffusion · capillarity · porosity · permeable · membrane
haze
Murky atmospheric suspension
- turbidityCloudiness from suspended particles
- opalescenceMilky, shifting luster
- cloudinessAtmospheric opacity from vapor
refraction · dispersion · deflection · diffraction · mist · fog · translucence · softening · attenuation · backscatter
dispersion
Scattering across space
- disseminationWide distribution of information
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- distributionAllocation across recipients
dispersal · transmission · circulation · expansion · migration · radiation · proliferation · broadcast · scatter · outspread
vague
Unclear, ill-defined
- scatteredSpread irregularly about
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- indistinctUnclear, hard to perceive
hazy · blurry · unclear · ill-defined · fuzzy · rambling · meandering · undirected · disorganized · loose
attenuated
Lessened in force
dispersed · rarefied · sparse · faint · diluted · weakened · diminished
diffusiveconcentrated
Gathered or intensified
localized · centripetal · convergent · focused · collected
- linguistic diffusionTransmission of speech features
- diffusion coatingSurface enrichment via atomic migration
- carbon diffusionAtom movement through solids
- light diffusionSpreading of illumination