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Diffusion

/diˈfyo͞oZHən/

Noun

(General Science)
1. One of several transport phenomena that occur in nature. A distinguishing feature of diffusion is that it results in mixing or mass transport, without requiring bulk motion. Thus, diffusion should not be confused with convection, or advection, which are other transport mechanisms that utilize bulk motion to move particles from one place to another. In Latin, “diffundere” means “to spread out”. (wikipedia.org)

2. The movement of water vapor from regions of high concentration (high water vapor pressure) toward regions of lower concentration. (wiktionary.org)

3. The process whereby particles of liquids, gases, or solids intermingle as the result of their spontaneous movement caused by thermal agitation and in dissolved substances move from a region of higher to one of lower concentration. (merriam-webster.com)

(Physics)
1. The intermingling of the molecules of a fluid due to random thermal agitation. (wiktionary.org)

2. The scattering of light by reflection from a rough surface, or by passage through a translucent medium. (wiktionary.org)

3. The intermingling of the molecules of a fluid due to random thermal agitation. (wiktionary.org)

4. Exchange of airborne media between regions in space in an apparently random motion of a small scale. (wiktionary.org)

(Others)
1. The spread of cultural elements from one area or group of people to others by contact. (merriam-webster.com)

2. The softening of sharp outlines in a photographic image. (merriam-webster.com)

3. The act of dispersing or diffusing something. (merriam-webster.com)

Word origin: From Latin diffusionem (nominative diffusio) “a pouring forth,” noun of action from past participle stem of diffundere “scatter, pour out,” from dis- “apart, in every direction” + fundere “pour”

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