v. dis·persed, dis·pers·ing, dis·pers·es v.tr. 1. a. To drive off or scatter in different directions: The police dispersed the crowd. See Synonyms at scatter. b. To strew or distribute widely: The airplane dispersed the leaflets over the city. 2. To cause to attenuate and disappear: The sun dispersed the fog. 3. a. To separate (light) into spectral rays. b. To distribute (particles) evenly throughout a medium. v.intr. 1. To separate and move in different directions; scatter: The crowd dispersed once the concert ended. 2. To attenuate and vanish; dissipate: The storm clouds had dispersed by noon. [Middle English dispersen, from Old French disperser, from Latin dispergere, dispers-, to disperse : dis-, apart; see DIS- + spargere, to scatter.] dis·persed·ly (-spûrsĭd-lē) adv. dis·perser n. dis·persi·ble adj. |
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