DISSIPATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does dissipation mean? 

• DISSIPATION (noun)
  The noun DISSIPATION has 3 senses:

1. breaking up and scattering by dispersion

2. dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure

3. useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly

  Familiarity information: DISSIPATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISSIPATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Breaking up and scattering by dispersion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

the dissipation of the mist

Hypernyms ("dissipation" is a kind of...):

dispersion; scattering (spreading widely or driving off)

Derivation:

dissipate (move away from each other)

dissipate (to cause to separate and go in different directions)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

dissipation; dissolution; licentiousness; looseness; profligacy

Hypernyms ("dissipation" is a kind of...):

intemperance; intemperateness; self-indulgence (excess in action and immoderate indulgence of bodily appetites, especially in passion or indulgence)

Derivation:

dissipate (live a life of pleasure, especially with respect to alcoholic consumption)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

dissipation; waste; wastefulness

Context example:

mindless dissipation of natural resources

Hypernyms ("dissipation" is a kind of...):

activity (any specific behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dissipation"):

boondoggle (work of little or no value done merely to look busy)

waste of effort; waste of energy (a useless effort)

waste of material (a useless consumption of material)

waste of money (money spent for inadequate return)

waste of time (the devotion of time to a useless activity)

extravagance; high life; highlife; lavishness; prodigality (excessive spending)

squandering (spending resources lavishly and wastefully)

Derivation:

dissipate (spend frivolously and unwisely)

 Context examples 

It was Christmas week: we took to no settled employment, but spent it in a sort of merry domestic dissipation.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“Quite an uncommon dissipation!” said Mr. Chillip, stirring it, “but I can't resist so extraordinary an occasion. You have no family, sir?” I shook my head.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Ah, sister Mary, I have brought your boy back to you, none the worse, I hope, for the dissipations of town.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In town I believe he chiefly lived, but his studying the law was a mere pretence, and being now free from all restraint, his life was a life of idleness and dissipation.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Neither the dissipations of the past—and she had lived very much in the world—nor the restrictions of the present, neither sickness nor sorrow seemed to have closed her heart or ruined her spirits.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

But you, (turning to Mr. Knightley,) who know how very, very seldom I am ever two hours from Hartfield, why you should foresee such a series of dissipation for me, I cannot imagine.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I say awakened, because time and London, business and dissipation, had in some measure quieted it, and I had been growing a fine hardened villain, fancying myself indifferent to her, and chusing to fancy that she too must have become indifferent to me; talking to myself of our past attachment as a mere idle, trifling business, shrugging up my shoulders in proof of its being so, and silencing every reproach, overcoming every scruple, by secretly saying now and then, 'I shall be heartily glad to hear she is well married.'— But this note made me know myself better.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Holmes’s quiet day in the country had a singular termination, for he arrived at Baker Street late in the evening, with a cut lip and a discoloured lump upon his forehead, besides a general air of dissipation which would have made his own person the fitting object of a Scotland Yard investigation.

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

Her mind seemed wholly taken up with reminiscences of past gaiety, and aspirations after dissipations to come.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Jim sprang up, however, and walked over to his corner, while Berks, distressed by his evening’s dissipation, leaned one arm upon Mendoza and the other upon Dutch Sam as he made for his seat.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)