DIFFUSED

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does diffused mean? 

• DIFFUSED (adjective)
  The adjective DIFFUSED has 2 senses:

1. (of light rays) subjected to scattering by reflection from a rough surface or transmission through a translucent material

2. (of light) transmitted from a broad light source or reflected

  Familiarity information: DIFFUSED used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DIFFUSED (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of light rays) subjected to scattering by reflection from a rough surface or transmission through a translucent material

Context example:

diffused light

Similar:

distributed (spread out or scattered about or divided up)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of light) transmitted from a broad light source or reflected

Synonyms:

diffuse; diffused; soft

 Context examples 

They made many signs which I did not comprehend, but I saw that her presence diffused gladness through the cottage, dispelling their sorrow as the sun dissipates the morning mists.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

One day when Mr. Creakle kept the house from indisposition, which naturally diffused a lively joy through the school, there was a good deal of noise in the course of the morning's work.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

This collar was placed over the dome of the balloon, and the hanging thongs were gathered together below, so that the pressure of any weight would be diffused over a considerable surface.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The stiffness of the meeting soon gave way before their popular manners and more diffused intimacies: little groups were formed, and everybody grew comfortable.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

An antiquated term referring to a malignant lymphoma that is diffused and composed of small and large lymphocytes.

(Lymphosarcoma, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

For which the astronomers (who have written large systems concerning the stone) assign the following reason: that the magnetic virtue does not extend beyond the distance of four miles, and that the mineral, which acts upon the stone in the bowels of the earth, and in the sea about six leagues distant from the shore, is not diffused through the whole globe, but terminated with the limits of the king’s dominions; and it was easy, from the great advantage of such a superior situation, for a prince to bring under his obedience whatever country lay within the attraction of that magnet.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

But he must not be addressing his reflections to Anne alone: he knew it; he was soon diffused again among the others, and it was only at intervals that he could return to Lyme.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Had Elizabeth been able to encounter his eye, she might have seen how well the expression of heartfelt delight, diffused over his face, became him; but, though she could not look, she could listen, and he told her of feelings, which, in proving of what importance she was to him, made his affection every moment more valuable.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The presence of Safie diffused happiness among its inhabitants, and I also found that a greater degree of plenty reigned there.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

There was such an interest, such an animation, such a spirit diffused.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)