n. Change or dispersion of the direction and intensity of a wave as it traverses an object or aperture, especially when the size of the object or aperture approximates the wavelength of the wave. [New Latin diffrāctiō, diffrāctiōn-, from Latin diffrāctus, past participle of diffringere : dis-, apart; see DIS- + frangere, to break; see bhreg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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