dispersive
Causing to scatter
Dispersive describes something that causes spreading or scattering.
In physics, a dispersive medium separates light into its component wavelengths—a prism is dispersive because it splits white light into a spectrum.
The term appears in technical contexts: dispersive soils erode easily when exposed to water, dispersive forces in chemistry describe weak molecular attractions.
More generally, dispersive characterizes anything that tends to scatter rather than concentrate.
Light-splitting optical element
- refractionWave bending between media
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- rainbowRefracted light arc
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
chromatic · aberration · diffraction · polarization · light · interference · scattering · spectral
Passive molecular spreading
- disseminationWide distribution of information
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- scatteringDistribution in many directions
- propagationAct of spreading widely
expansion · broadcast · circulation · transmission · radiation · emanation · permeation · penetration
Answer or liquid mixture
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- attenuateReduce in force
- dilutionReduction in concentration
- watered-downReduced in strength
thin · tenuous · weak · solute · dissolve · mixture · solvent · homogeneous
Movement to new territory
- exodusMass departure from somewhere
- emigrationLeaving homeland permanently
- resettlementReestablishing in new place
- refugeesPeople seeking safety elsewhere
expatriates · scattering · displacement · transnational · deterritorialization · transmigration · expulsion · relocation
Unclear, indistinct
- scatteredSpread irregularly about
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- indistinctUnclear, hard to perceive
- unfocusedWithout clear direction
sparse · decentralized · fragmented · unconcentrated · distributed · loose
prism
Light-splitting optical element
- refractionWave bending between media
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- rainbowRefracted light arc
wavelength · chromatic · aberration · diffraction · polarization · light · interference · scattering · spectral · monochromatic
diffusion
Passive molecular spreading
- disseminationWide distribution of information
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- scatteringDistribution in many directions
propagation · expansion · broadcast · circulation · transmission · radiation · emanation · permeation · penetration · proliferation
solution
Answer or liquid mixture
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- attenuateReduce in force
- dilutionReduction in concentration
watered-down · thin · tenuous · weak · solute · dissolve · mixture · solvent · homogeneous · suspension
migration
Movement to new territory
- exodusMass departure from somewhere
- emigrationLeaving homeland permanently
- resettlementReestablishing in new place
refugees · expatriates · scattering · displacement · transnational · deterritorialization · transmigration · expulsion · relocation · settlers
hazy
Unclear, indistinct
- scatteredSpread irregularly about
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- indistinctUnclear, hard to perceive
unfocused · sparse · decentralized · fragmented · unconcentrated · distributed · loose
dispersivecollective
Jointly organized group
aggregative · gathering · unifying · consolidating · collecting
dispersiveconcentrating
Directing mental effort narrowly
focusing · condensing · compacting · converging · intensifying
- dispersion relationFrequency as wavenumber function