v. dis·si·pat·ed, dis·si·pat·ing, dis·si·pates v.tr. 1. a. To break apart or attenuate to the point of disappearing: The wind finally dissipated the smoke. See Synonyms at scatter. b. To drive away; cause to vanish: a discovery that dissipated his doubts. 2. a. To spend or expend intemperately or wastefully; squander: dissipated his fortune in casinos. 3. To cause to lose (energy, such as heat) irreversibly. v.intr. 1. To be attenuated and vanish: The dark clouds finally dissipated. 2. To become dispelled; vanish: His anger dissipated in time. [Middle English dissipaten, from Latin dissipāre, dissipāt-.] dissi·pat′er, dissi·pa′tor n. dissi·pa′tive adj. |
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