DISSIPATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dissipate mean? 

• DISSIPATE (verb)
  The verb DISSIPATE has 4 senses:

1. to cause to separate and go in different directions

2. move away from each other

3. spend frivolously and unwisely

4. live a life of pleasure, especially with respect to alcoholic consumption

  Familiarity information: DISSIPATE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISSIPATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they dissipate    ... he / she / it dissipates   
Past simple: dissipated   
Past participle: dissipated   
-ing form: dissipating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

To cause to separate and go in different directions

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

break up; dispel; disperse; dissipate; scatter

Context example:

She waved her hand and scattered the crowds

Hypernyms (to "dissipate" is one way to...):

divide; separate (make a division or separation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dissipate"):

disband (cause to break up or cease to function)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

dissipation (breaking up and scattering by dispersion)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move away from each other

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

disperse; dissipate; scatter; spread out

Context example:

The children scattered in all directions when the teacher approached

Hypernyms (to "dissipate" is one way to...):

part; separate; split (go one's own way; move apart)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dissipate"):

aerosolise; aerosolize (become dispersed as an aerosol)

break (scatter or part)

volley (be dispersed in a volley)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

dissipation (breaking up and scattering by dispersion)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Spend frivolously and unwisely

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

dissipate; fool; fool away; fritter; fritter away; frivol away; shoot

Context example:

Fritter away one's inheritance

Hypernyms (to "dissipate" is one way to...):

consume; squander; ware; waste (spend extravagantly)

"Dissipate" entails doing...:

consume; deplete; eat; eat up; exhaust; run through; use up; wipe out (use up (resources or materials))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

dissipation (useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Live a life of pleasure, especially with respect to alcoholic consumption

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "dissipate" is one way to...):

live (lead a certain kind of life; live in a certain style)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

dissipation (dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure)

 Context examples 

This atmosphere dissipates as a planet moves closer to its star.

(Hubble Uncovers a ‘Heavy Metal’ Exoplanet Shaped Like a Football, NASA)

Otherwise your energy and attention must be dissipated instead of being concentrated.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

BAT is a thermogenic organ equipped to dissipate energy in the form of heat through the so-called “uncoupling protein”.

(Increasing the level of physical activity is found not to improve the functioning of brown adipose tissue, University of Granada)

The emission dominated Mars' ultraviolet spectrum for several hours after the encounter and then dissipated over the next two days.

(Mars Spacecraft Reveal Comet Flyby Effects on Martian Atmosphere, NASA)

In most Martian years, which are nearly twice as long as Earth years, all the regional storms dissipate and none swells into a global dust storm.

(Dust Storms Linked to Gas Escape from Mars Atmosphere, NASA)

Sand on Earth also can pick up an electric charge, but the grains are much smaller and dissipate rapidly.

('Electric Sands' Cover Titan, VOA News)

“The group that received the bacteria plus light had more oxygen and the heart worked better,” Woo said, adding that the bacteria “dissipated” in about 24 hours.

(Oxygen-Producing Bacteria Could Help Heart Attack Sufferers, VOA News)

His character is now before you; expensive, dissipated, and worse than both.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

In just a few thousand years they will have dissipated, and all that will be left to see is the dimly glowing white dwarf.

(Hubble Views Final Stages of a Star’s Life, ESA/NASA)

Planetary astronomers hope to better understand how dark vortices originate, what controls their drifts and oscillations, how they interact with the environment, and how they eventually dissipate.

(Hubble Imagery Confirms New Dark Spot on Neptune, NASA)