dispersion
Light through prism
Dispersion is the spreading or scattering of something over a wide area or among many recipients.
Light passing through a prism undergoes dispersion, separating into its component wavelengths to reveal the color spectrum.
In statistics and science, dispersion measures how spread out data points are from their center.
The term applies equally to physical phenomena like the dispersion of seeds by wind and to abstract distributions like the dispersion of a population across a territory.
Distribute in random directions
- spreadTo distribute widely
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- disseminationWide distribution of information
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
spraying · strewing · distribution · sowing · sprinkling · peppering · disbanding · fragmentation
Allocation across recipients
- varianceSpread around the mean
- standard deviationSpread around the mean
- meanAverage, or spiteful
- medianCentral sorted value
histogram · bell curve · normal distribution · binomial · probability · outliers · percentile · quartile
Light-splitting optical element
- rainbowRefracted light arc
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- refractionWave bending between media
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
diffraction · color separation · spectroscopy · visible spectrum · ultraviolet · infrared · emission spectrum · spectral lines
Blended immiscible liquids
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- colloidStable dispersed mixture
- aerosolMist in gas
- solFifth scale degree
gel · micelle · nanoparticles · stabilizer · surfactant · homogenization · mayonnaise · milk
Forced separation by group
- isolationComplete separation from others
- partitionBarrier separating spaces
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
disintegration · breakup · dissolution · divergence · splitting · fragmentation · disunion
Process of spreading throughout
- spreadingExtending over space
- osmosisSolvent crossing semipermeable barrier
- penetrationEntry into something
- seepageSlow fluid escape
percolation · migration · transmission · propagation · infiltration · saturation · concentration gradient
Leaving homeland permanently
- exileBanishment from homeland
- migrationMovement to new territory
- scatteringDistribution in many directions
- displacementRemoval from usual location
refugees · resettlement · expulsion · Jewish diaspora · African diaspora · homeland · assimilation · cultural preservation
scatter
Distribute in random directions
- spreadTo distribute widely
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- disseminationWide distribution of information
diffusion · spraying · strewing · distribution · sowing · sprinkling · peppering · disbanding · fragmentation · decentralization
distribution
Allocation across recipients
- varianceSpread around the mean
- standard deviationSpread around the mean
- meanAverage, or spiteful
median · histogram · bell curve · normal distribution · binomial · probability · outliers · percentile · quartile · range
prism
Light-splitting optical element
- rainbowRefracted light arc
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- refractionWave bending between media
wavelength · diffraction · color separation · spectroscopy · visible spectrum · ultraviolet · infrared · emission spectrum · spectral lines
emulsion
Blended immiscible liquids
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- colloidStable dispersed mixture
- aerosolMist in gas
sol · gel · micelle · nanoparticles · stabilizer · surfactant · homogenization · mayonnaise · milk · fog
segregation
Forced separation by group
- isolationComplete separation from others
- partitionBarrier separating spaces
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
detachment · disintegration · breakup · dissolution · divergence · splitting · fragmentation · disunion
permeation
Process of spreading throughout
- spreadingExtending over space
- osmosisSolvent crossing semipermeable barrier
- penetrationEntry into something
seepage · percolation · migration · transmission · propagation · infiltration · saturation · concentration gradient
emigration
Leaving homeland permanently
- exileBanishment from homeland
- migrationMovement to new territory
- scatteringDistribution in many directions
displacement · refugees · resettlement · expulsion · Jewish diaspora · African diaspora · homeland · assimilation · cultural preservation · remittances
chirp
Short, high avian sound
- Exile BooksDaniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Book of Daniel, Babylonian exile
- powder processingpowders, milling, granulation, sieving, blending
- ultrafast opticsfemtosecond, autocorrelation, streaking, bandwidth limit, waveform
- wave mechanicsseismic waves, sound waves, body waves, surface waves, wave frequency
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
- liquidswater, milk, oil, blood, juice
dispersionconcentration
Sustained single-minded attention
convergence · aggregation · clustering · centralization · condensation
dispersioncollection
Gathered set of items
gathering · assembly · assemblage · unification · consolidation
dispersionconvergence
Process of approaching sameness
ingathering · reconvergence · regathering · reassembly · reunification
- dispersion relationFrequency as wavenumber function